Forza Horizon 4: The new i8

When the BMW i8 came out in the market four years ago, this PHEV sportscar defy expectations of what an eco-car should be, delivering unbiased performance and efficiency in a way that was heavily reminiscent of the Porsche 918 Spyder. I once said that before but the reason why the i8 came back on Forza Horizon 4 has one major purpose. Something's new is on the horizon...and it's already spring break.



There are so many memories for everyone who have driven the i8 in the world of Forza but now that the facelifted version is out, it didn't took long before the producers managed to bring the latest minor change in the world of Forza...in Roadster form.



This is the new BMW i8...in Roadster version. Even though the roof is open, it's still is the newest minor change of BMW's PHEV sportscar that blends performance and efficiency in a rather amusing way. One key difference between the pre-facelifted i8 we have and the recent minor change, albeit in Roadster version, are the lamps. The rear tailights are now clearer than before while the front lamps now comes with, wait for it, lasers that has a high-beam range of 600 metres. Hence the sign in the front lamp, huh?



Another key major difference between the Roadster i8 and the hardtop one is even with the new 1.5L 3-cylinder turbo engine mated to an electric motor and a brand new battery with over 55km of electric range, the Roadster weights about three hundred pounds more, therefore it's slower than the hardtop equivalent while electronically limited to 250kph. However, despite being heavier than the hardtop equivalent, the dynamics still feel like what the i8 was made to be and it's still a revelation to drive even in the English countryside. Don't ask why but the i8 is all about being a sporty eco car that not only it will leave your pulses pumping but leaving its footprints green with envy.



Let's have a little parade from the streets of Edinburgh to the M89 to showcase how the BMW i8 performs, shall we? This should be exciting but flattering at the same time, whatever that is.





In the modern age where cars of the future will be electrified in an all-out effort to reduce carbon emissions, the BMW i8 is a clear example that the future is now. In Coupe or Roadster guise, it's all about bringing smiles to the car enthusiasts by being economical and sporty at the same time and it's the car of the future we should all agree on. The more you know.

BMW i8 Coupe and Roadster

Since its launch four years ago, the BMW i8 shattered expectations of what an eco-car should be, delivering unbiased performance and efficiency in a way that was heavily reminiscent of the Porsche 918 Spyder, which isn't so bad in a car that is about 10% of the price of the 918. It was one of the most fantastic cars ever made, making the Honda NSX feels like peanut butters and denim jeans. Now, as time change, BMW made the i8 even better and they made a nice new addition to the range fit enough for your next weekend drive.

2019 BMW i8 Coupe

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

Now, for the 2019 model, the BMW i8 gained its minor change with some fresh updates to its wondrous powertrain and apart from the update, the new i8 Roadster was introduced, giving you plenty of choices to go for.

Checking on the design, since the i8 has reached its LCI phase, BMW's term for cars reached their minor change, the obvious change is the front and rear lamps and the implementation of Coupe and Roadster badges on the sidelines, not to mention some new 20-inch rims to name a few. The new front lamps are surprisingly laser ones that has a high-beam range of 600 metres, further than your telescopic flashlight can reach through a faraway home for nuisance, which is rather impressive. The air shutter on the front is still here for aerodynamic purposes.

2019 BMW i8 Coupe interior

2019 BMW i8 Roadster interior

There has been some mild revisions to the inside of the i8 such as the addition of the new Accaro E-Cooper with sustainable materials, which stays true to its eco-car promise, as well as its new touchscreen with tile-style control pads and customizable content for their personal tastes on the go, available ceramic elements, carbon trim, HUD with shift light visualization and pretty much it. Of course, those who are familiar of getting inside the i8 might experience the stubborn getting in and out process on the coupe version but on the new roadster variant, with the roof down, it's as smooth as a Victoria's Secret model and while cruising, you can close the roof and then open it again to see how much fun this eco-car can go for the extra mile. Also, while the coupe has two additional seats to the back, the roadster doesn't have those and in exchange, the roadster gets an available travel package with 92 litres of extra space, good for storing your laptops and other necessities on the trip to the country club.

On the performance side, BMW spent massive hours recalibrating the i8's powertrain and dynamics to deliver the sensation drivers are hoping for, which isn't bad for a mid-engined, four-wheel drive eco-car that is more fun to live and breathe with than the Honda NSX, despite being short on power compared to it. Talking through here, the new i8's innovative plug-in hybrid system has been improved with a brand new battery with over 55km of electric range. Powering this alongside the electric motor and the 1.5L 3-cylinder turbo engine, the result is an overall power output of now 374PS of power and 570Nm of torque. Mated to a 6-speed automatic, in the coupe version, it does 0-100kph in 4.4 seconds (4.6 seconds in the roadster) and electronically limited to 250kph. In terms of consumption, the coupe version promises 1.9L/100km of fuel economy while the roadster gets 2.1L/100km, verified by the NEDC.

Dynamics aside, despite the weight difference between the two cars, the i8's LifeDrive architecture promises an ideal weight distribution that fits perfectly with its PHEV drivetrain, all-wheel drive powertrain, and its race-inspired suspension setup, giving drivers what they're looking for in a car that is not just as ecological as a Prius but impressive to drive like the now legendary hypercar holy trinity.

While this is mainly a fun to drive car, the safety tech rather spoils the speedo boys tastes especially when it comes with semi-autonomous tech that will make them very noticeable enough to get their skins crawling. With several driver assistance systems come standard, there's no denying just how redundant it maybe when used on public roads but if you're trying to preserve this car, so be it because these tech might just save your hard-earned car for that matter, especially when the coupe starts at 138,000 Euros while the roadster starts at 155,000 Euros.

That sounds like much but compared to the Honda NSX, they're less expensive, making it a well-deserved bargain to get your hands on. In conclusion, the latest minor change and the addition of the new Roadster variant gives the BMW i8 more reason to love about the flagship of the BMW i range. With its improved performance and better fuel efficiency, there's so much to love about this Bimmer especially when you likened it to the Mercedes-AMG GT R parked next to it and sooner or later, you're going to fall in love with such German steel like the i8. The best just got better and it's even better than the best.

Photo: BMW AG

Forza Horizon 3: Long-awaited Bimmer

While the cars of Forza Horizon 3 are freely roaming around in the roads of the Land Down Under, a car made with the futuristic necessities come shining through as it rolls by. This could only mean one thing; at long last, after two or three years of waiting to get this car featured in the Forza franchise after its launch, the long-awaited Bimmer, the BMW i8, has arrived, ringing the new year with a flashpoint of the future.

Yes, the BMW i8 has arrived, thanks to Forza Horizon 3's Rockstar Energy Drink Car Pack, available now, and with this car pack, our dream of driving BMW's flagship plug-in hybrid electric sportscar that is the spearheader of the BMW i range in the game has came true and we have plenty of reasons to drive "the ultimate driving machine" for the next generation. More like the next 100 years if you ask the Bimmer fanatics.

So, what's it all about the BMW i8? As the sensation of the year 2014, BMW's all new plug-in hybrid electric sportscar, the i8, ushers the new era of sporty driving with ecological conscience in mind. Drawing inspirations from the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept in 2009 and the i8 Concept in 2011, this concept-turned-reality PHEV is another reason why BMW is getting their eco-car game face on and it combines the fun-to-drive characteristics of a luxury sportscar with the ecology and efficiency of most hybrids and electric cars. With the 1.5L petrol and the hybrid synchronous motor working together, it develops a total output of 362PS of power, resulting to a 0-100kph time of 4.4 seconds and 2.1L/100km of fuel economy. Apart from that, the i8's bodywork is comprised of space-age materials, making it stiffer and lighter. All and all, the i8 is a PHEV that is here today, ready for tomorrow and with such unique packaging, no one can go wrong with it.

I feel like I'm one in a million people who demanded to have this car in the franchise since its 2014 launch as a 2015 model year and while it sounds too little, too late for us, it's better late than never to have BMW's flagship plug-in hybrid electric sportscar in the game. Because this is the one everyone's waited for so long, the BMW i8 is surely become their next favorite Bimmer to drive in the Land Down Under for days, even months, while experimenting its astonishing capabilities this PHEV can do. Yes, we do have the berks of the future in the range such as the P1, LaFerrari, the Tesla Model S, and even the latest NSX I drove a while back, but this i8 is all about being a step into tomorrow's world and while its eco-car credentials swoon weird-beard environmentalists and armpit hair enthusiasts alike, its performance is nothing to be called a dull ride to the playground. In fact, there's some work to be done with this...long-awaited Bimmer.

See what I did? Looks like the i8 got the "extra service" it deserved and speaking of which, who else to love but THE IDOLM@STER's Yayoi Takatsuki? I mean, come on. Is anyone still have love with the series for over a decade?! Still, the reason why I came this up is because while this basically an expensive car with a six-figure price tag, it is considered to be ten times less expensive than the "holy trinity" of hypercars. Sadly, the so-called "holy trinity" of the supercar realm are already sold out, hence this is the only hybrid sportscar you can afford. Still, that pricing kinda rings a bell when you compare it against another hybrid sportscar, the new Honda NSX. I love that car, anyway, but if you had to choose between the NSX and i8? Which would you like?

Sadly, this isn't the time to answer questions because it's time for the i8's no talk, just do it to the max straight approach! Hey! Where did I heard that before? Still, time to get the cameras rolling!

The BMW i8 is the car that was meant to be a future-ready innovation in the time when cars with big thirsty V8 engines are heading to the list of endangered species, just like what happened to the V10 engines, which sadly there are two remaining on the list such as the Lamborghini Huracan and the Audi R8. Like animals, car innovations don't live for a few years and the numbers will keep on declining for the next generation until one of them are declared extinct. Things change and and this is the very reality we're facing right now so we have to adapt through every situation as the world turns for better or for worse, like what the i8 is doing as it can adapt to the ever-changing world with its future-ready innovation that sets the template for BMW's centennial history. Anyway, that's all I can said it and I think that's enough for that.

Happy that you got to drive the i8? If so, you'll be glad that you had it since the car was launched in 2014.

Cadillac ELR vs. BMW i8

In the not too distant past, most Cadillacs are infamous for being a car made for pensioners because by the way you look at them, it seems that most Caddies in the past have looks only pensioners would want but thanks to the ART & SCIENCE philosophy, not only Cadillac was saved from the brink of extinction but also turned the tables on what we expect from a Cadillac. With cars like the ATS, CTS, XTS, SRX, and the Escalade, Cadillacs are getting more noticeable than the past as well as gaining admirers. With all that ART & SCIENCE still flourishing General Motors' luxury brand, looks like Cadillac made this...

2014 Cadillac ELR

This is the Cadillac ELR and while being true to its name, this is the brand's first electric long range vehicle designed not only to look smirk on your neighbors thinking that you have a car that is way more than the commoner Nissan Leaf but also a car that can get you from points A to B longer than your average German saloon.

2014 Cadillac ELR

Of course being one of the firsts from Cadillac, I could get amused that this new model is just like the Chevrolet Volt because like the Chevrolet Volt, the ELR is a plug-in hybrid vehicle or PHEV. You can either charge it with electricity, fill up petrol or like that little girl from that taco commercial...why not have both? WHY NOT HAVE BOTH?! That's a clever way to say that! WHY NOT HAVE BOTH?

You see, the ELR is equipped with the 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery and an electric motor generating up to 135kW (before you reach your calculator app, yup. That's 184HP) on the electric side while on the petrol side, it comes with the 1.4L EcoFLEX engine, the same engine you would expect on most Opels or Vauxhalls in Europe. Running on petrol alone, it develops a very compact car-ish 83HP of power and it's made to run the 55kW generator when the Li-iON battery is running on empty.

Running on battery alone, it can reach up to 37 miles of distance, enough to reach from a house from 46th Avenue South, Seattle, to Three Lakes Rd, Snohomish, WA. With the battery and the generator working together as one, it can travel up to 340 miles of distance, the driving distance from San Jose, California, to Seattle, Washington...as a theory.

There's more because on the ELR, you are in charge when is your car fully charge. You make the schedule on when to charge it, customize your charging mode as well as the charging level, and you can program it based on off-peak rates or your next trip. On a 240V outlet, it takes about five hours to fully charge it but on 120V outlets, it may take 75% of the day to fully charge it and that's theoretically...boring.

2014 Cadillac ELR interior

2014 Cadillac ELR interior

So, while this maybe one of the most ideal machines you can drive as a daily driver, there are some mishaps in the ELR's luster and that's when we get to the interior. Of course, it's all typical Cadillac interior just like any luxury car makers to wear uniform interiors but the Cadillac CUE system...what can I say? Of course, it maybe more enjoyable to explore the CUE but your weary fingers can't sustain the boring and complicated methods on how to master the Cadillac CUE infotainment system. It's hard to find the MP3 player, the Bluetooth, the navigation, and those tick-tack stuff this navigation system has loads of it. It's like getting lost in a maze or something.

Of course, while it may seat up to four, its coupe layout means that the rear room is mostly cramped for the rear passengers. You might be finding unfathomable difficulty squeezing yourself at the back of the ELR.

While this maybe the coupe, the ELR is not one of the best cars to enjoy on a weekend drive because the suspension setup is a little bit too wonky. The HiPer Strut front and Watts Link rear Sport suspension doesn't feel like a European sportscar and it behaves...like a commoner eco box. This car doesn't behave like a fit and agile coupe from another world and while the suspension setup is the least of the problems for the ELR, the biggest problem is the pricing because the ELR starts at 75,000 Dollars plus tax and destination charges and you can charge more with the optional extras. Is it more bang for the buck. Sadly, no. The ELR is not what you called a good car to drive but there's one good thing you might consider...

2015 BMW i8

This is the BMW i8, it's one of the most anticipated models of 2014 and by no means one of the most interesting cars to drive. Like the Cadillac ELR, it's a plug-in hybrid vehicle but unlike the ELR, the petrol engine is a 1.5L 3-cylinder turbo engine developing 231PS of power. Unlike the ELR, the joint custody of the 1.5L petrol and the hybrid synchronous motor developing a total output of 362PS of power. That is how Germany wanted to beat USA with all that power comes in.

This car is proven to be the epitome of a blue-blooded eco car and while it maybe a PHEV just like the ELR, the BMW i8 is unlike any other because of its bespoke hybrid system that delivers a range up to 23 miles and 75mph on electric power alone but running on all powers, you can expect 135 mph imperial of driving distance. Of course, while it maybe less than the ELR, the i8 is still more enjoyable to drive than the ELR thanks to its all-wheel drive system that lets you have fun without crashing into it.

2015 BMW i8 interior

2015 BMW i8 interior

While the i8 is truly one of the most enjoyable cars, it is one of the most exclusive cars ever made and thanks to the 126,000 Euro pricing and the long waitlist currently facing, having one is an unfathomable difficulty. So, the conclusion is simple, while the Cadillac ELR is designed for travelling further distances in mind, the BMW i8 is by no means one of the most interesting machines of the planet, incorporating how this plug-in hybrid sports car made from the blank sheet of paper and some creative brainstorming from the Germans.

2015 BMW i8

In the end, only history will tell the winner but for me, I would go for the i8.