GENERATION-I

Text: Irina Malkova

Photos: "Russian Emirates"

THE MOST EXPECTED VEHICLE, THE MOST DISCUSSED MACHINE OF THE LAST YEARS, AS WRITING OUT FROM THE PAGES OF NOVEL AIZEK AZIMOV. TEAM "RUSSIAN EMIRATES" TESTED A FANTASTIC SUPERCAR - BMW I8.

Released in 2014, the BMW i8 shook up not only the world of sports cars, but also the automotive world as a whole. BMW managed to beat its competitors and successfully combine innovative developments in the field of design and performance. In a few years, we may even recognize that it was this model that saved the entire segment of supercars.

The Bavarian automaker wants you to believe that the i8 is the sports car of the future, and I must admit, it is easy to believe - the new car is as unconventional, exotic and modern as you can imagine.

Oh yes, you’ll also have to get used to being the center of attention, because not a single car fan will be able to get past the i8 and not capture it on your phone.

Eco drive

The BMW i8, which AGMC sells in the UAE, is a sports hybrid. The car has two power sources: electricity (hence the letter "i" in the name) and gasoline. At the rear of the body is a three-cylinder one and a half liter turbo engine, which, despite its small size, gives a power of 228 liters. with. At the front of the body is an electric motor that instantly delivers a torque of 250 HM.

As a result, you have a silent electric car, ideal for driving around town to work. But if you are tuned for more, the car can easily turn into a real Porsche 911.

Three basic driving modes are possible: purely electric, hybrid and "sport". With a fully charged battery, the electric mode allows you to drive 37 km at a maximum speed of 120 km / h. You need to charge this curiosity almost the same way you charge your iPhone. The main thing is to find an ordinary outlet.

A sports car with a 3-cylinder engine in itself is not something outstanding, but thanks to the combination with an electric motor, the i8 is as fast as, for example, the Audi R8. Acceleration to 100 km / h takes 4.4 seconds. No matter which power source you drive, the i8 instantly responds to the slightest pedal.

Salon

If you control the i8, put up with the fact that it is better to refuse mini-skirts - to get into the cabin under the doors that have the shape of a bird's wing and climb over a wide threshold is a task that requires remarkable skill.

However, it is worth to drive, everything seems completely ordinary. The familiar satellite navigation system, conventional temperature controllers and completely ordinary cup holders. The interior of the car is exceptionally beautiful and elegant as befits the interiors of BMW. Everything is exactly as it should be: strict, but at the same time convenient.

The passenger seat is very durable, but lightweight at the same time, because it is made of reinforced carbon plastic. When you sit in it, it seems that you are in a racing car.

The new BMW model also uses aluminum and magnesium - to make the car as light as possible and compensate for the severity of the batteries, which are located on the central axis along the entire length of the body.

The interior of the cabin is slightly futuristic and unbanal, all details are made and assembled without any complaints. The blue color, which is considered an environmental marker in the industry, can be seen here and there, but for the most part everything is made in the colors and materials traditional for BMW.

The car is equipped with a modern "Driver Assistance System", which includes, for example, cameras for tracking pedestrians and the function of automatic speed reduction to avoid collision with them when driving at a speed of 16-56 km / h. At higher speeds, the security system recognizes other cars moving in the same direction and slows down if a collision is imminent.

The standard equipment is very voluminous: it includes climate control, cruise control with braking function, a navigator, a rear-view camera, a speedometer on the windshield, a Bluetooth connection and a USB connector, a tire pressure monitoring system, a shock absorber control system, electrical adjustment , LED interior lighting, front and rear parking sensors, a 22-cm media display and a Harman Kardon stereo system.

Speaking of columns. Outside, as we wrote earlier, the car is almost silent, however, the effect of the roar of turbines for the driver is specially heard from the stereo speakers in the cabin. At first it’s not easy to notice, but when the secret is solved, it will be difficult for you to resist and not to look with curiosity at the speakers located in the doors, trying to believe that the sound actually comes from them. BMW is not the first and not the last to make fun of drivers like that. Of course, this trick can cause righteous anger, but if it allows drivers and passengers to feel more comfortable, we have nothing against it.

The BMW i8 is available in several colors, including silver, white, blue and black; the latter, in our opinion, the most stylish. However, in any color, the car looks good. Narrow LED headlights, graceful bends, taillights reminiscent of the details of a spaceship, and characteristic semi-arches perfectly combine with a low landing.

Back to the future

Are there more interesting cars on sale today? All day that we spent testing the BMW i8, we wondered this question. Perhaps this is one of the most intriguing models, and not only because of its unique power train and excellent dynamics, but also due to its convenience and exceptional perfection - both inside and out.

In short, the BMW i8 is very good. This is not just a sports car, it runs on electricity in combination with a small and very powerful engine. True, you will never be able to achieve the declared fuel consumption figures of 2.5 liters, but 6 liters per 100 km is already quite an impressive result, which does not require any effort. With the gradual depletion of global fuel reserves, hybrid cars cannot be a complete solution to the problem, but are excellent as an intermediate stage. i8 convincingly proves that the car can be powerful, convenient and at the same time environmentally friendly. We advise you to think carefully.

BMW i8