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BMW i8

The 2014 i8: carbon-fiber tub, turbo triple, 0–60 mph in 3.8 seconds.1

Researched November 1, 2026 from 28 sources

At a glance

0200400
357–369 hpPower
0510
4.4–4.6 s0–100 km/h
0125250
250 km/hTop speed
0300600
570 N·mTorque
01,0002,000
1,485–1,665 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.47

Engine
1.5 L B38K15T0 turbo inline-3 plus electric motors; plug-in hybrid49
Layout
Mid-engine AWD; electric front axle, gasoline rear axle24
Gearbox
Six-speed automatic for rear engine; two-speed automatic for front motor29
Built at
BMW Group Plant Leipzig, Germany4
Units built
20,465 total: 16,581 Coupes, 3,884 Roadsters (2014–2020)4

The story

Created as BMW i's showcase for hybrid technology, the i8 paired a carbon-fiber tub with an aluminum subframe. Benoît Jacob led its design team.123

2009: Vision EfficientDynamics previews the i820092013: Production debut at Frankfurt20132014: Leipzig production; June launch · 3.8 seconds to 60 mph in testing20142016: Protonic Red Edition arrives20162018: Roadster arrives; 11.6 kWh update20182019: 200 Ultimate Sophisto Editions20192020: June 11: production ends at 20,4652020 BMW Turbo: 1972BMW M1 (E26): 1978–1981E26BMW Vision EfficientDynamics: 2009BMW i8 Concept: 2011BMW i8 Concept Spyder: 2012BMW i8 (I12/I15): 2014–2020I12/I15 19801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones416
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1972BMW Turbo
1978–1981BMW M1 (E26)
2009BMW Vision EfficientDynamics
2011BMW i8 Concept
2012BMW i8 Concept Spyder
2014–2020BMW i8 (I12/I15)
2009Vision EfficientDynamics previews the i8
2013Production debut at Frankfurt
2014Leipzig production; June launch
20143.8 seconds to 60 mph in testing
2016Protonic Red Edition arrives
2018Roadster arrives; 11.6 kWh update
2019200 Ultimate Sophisto Editions
2020June 11: production ends at 20,465
  1. 2009

    Vision EfficientDynamics previews the i8

    A 1.5 L three-cylinder turbodiesel and two electric motors power the Vision EfficientDynamics plug-in concept.4

  2. 2013

    Production debut at Frankfurt

    BMW brings the i8 to Frankfurt; the concept's full-glass doors are gone, but its butterfly opening survives.45

  3. 2014

    Leipzig production; June launch

    Production starts in April; the German launch follows in June. Laser headlights also make their production-car debut on the i8.4

  4. 2014

    3.8 seconds to 60 mph in testing

    Car and Driver records 0–60 mph in 3.8 seconds and a 12.4-second quarter-mile; observed economy is 24 mpg versus the Coupe's 112 mpg US NEDC claim.46

  5. 2016

    Protonic Red Edition arrives

    Geneva introduces the Protonic Red Edition; Leipzig production follows in July, with Frozen Grey accents and red cabin stitching.4

  6. 2018

    Roadster arrives; 11.6 kWh update

    Coupe battery grows from 7.1 to 11.6 kWh; the new Roadster shares it. NEDC EV range: Coupe 37 to 55 km, Roadster 53 km. EPA: 24 to 29 km.4

  7. 2019

    200 Ultimate Sophisto Editions

    Announced for 2020, the final edition spans Coupe and Roadster: 200 cars worldwide, with Sophisto Grey paint and E-Copper details.7

  8. 2020

    June 11: production ends at 20,465

    The final tally is 16,581 Coupes and 3,884 Roadsters. The last 18 Roadsters receive bespoke colors, including Austin Yellow and British Racing Green.48

Every generation

  • BMW Turbo
    BMW Turbo1972
  • BMW M1
    E261978–1981
  • BMW Vision EfficientDynamics
    BMW Vision EfficientDynamics2009
  • BMW i8 Concept
    BMW i8 Concept2011
  • BMW i8 Concept Spyder
    BMW i8 Concept Spyder2012
  • BMW i8
    I12/I152014–2020

Power over the years

From 357 hp to 369 hp in 4 years.

0100200300400 2014201620182020 hp 2014 · 357 hp · Original Coupe2018 · 369 hp · UK Coupe update / Roadster launch2019 · 369 hp · US MY2019 Coupe / Roadster 369 hp UK Coupe update / Roadster launch 357 hp Original Coupe
245910
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
2014357Original Coupe
2018369UK Coupe update / Roadster launch
2019369US MY2019 Coupe / Roadster

Versions

12 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Coupe

    Standard

    Coupe

    2014–2018

    357 hp

  • Standard

    Coupe (facelift)

    2018–2020

    369 hp

  • Standard

    Giga

  • Standard

    Tera

  • Standard

    Pure Impulse World

  • Roadster

    Standard

    Roadster

    2018–2020

    369 hp

    3,884 built

  • Special

    Protonic Red Edition

    2016

  • Roadster First Edition

    Limited

    Roadster First Edition

    2018

  • Ultimate Sophisto Edition

    Limited

    Ultimate Sophisto Edition

    2020

    369 hp
  • MemphisStyle by Garage Italia Customs

    Special

    MemphisStyle by Garage Italia Customs

    2017

  • Limited

    Last 18 Roadsters

    2020

    18 built

  • Limited

    Concours d’Elegance Edition

    2014

    1 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • Butterfly doors swing upward from hinges at the windshield pillars.46
  • Look for the long black body band beginning on the hood.11
  • Overlapping panels where the roof meets the rear fenders create air channels.11
  • BMW twin kidney grille treatment pairs with round headlight elements.11
  • The coupe’s roof reveals a carbon-fiber weave up close.11

Year by year

  1. 2018 / 2019 model year

    The facelift introduced a revised hood air shutter, shared by Coupe and Roadster, to keep warm air away from the open cabin.59

  2. 2018 / 2019 model year

    A lightweight 20-inch wheel option and two additional paint colors joined the range, including a copper tone.59

  3. 2018

    The two-seat Roadster joined the coupe, with a folding fabric roof and silver B-pillar trim.49

  4. 2018 (UK)

    The updated car offered optional laser headlights; LED headlights were standard.10

Against its rivals

  • Acura NSX (2020)

    i8 vs Acura NSX (2020)

    System power

    i8369 hp
    Acura NSX (2020)573 hp
    17

  • i8 vs Lexus LC 500h (2020)

    System power

    i8369 hp
    Lexus LC 500h (2020)354 hp
    17
  • Polestar 1 (2020)

    i8 vs Polestar 1 (2020)

    System power

    i8369 hp
    Polestar 1 (2020)619 hp
    17

Prices

Price when newAuction sale
$0$250K$500K$750K$1M 20142016201820202022202420262028 2014 · $135,700 · US base MSRP2014 · $138,650 · US i8, as tested 2014 · $135,700 · US base MSRP, 2014 model year 2014 · $825,000 · 2014 Concours d’Elegance Edition (charity), Gooding & Company2025 · $55,000 · 2014 i8, 13k miles, BaT2025 · $68,500 · 2017 i8 Protonic Frozen Black Edition, 23k miles, BaT2025 · $70,000 · 2020 i8 Roadster, 34k miles, BaT2026 · $42,855 · 2015 i8, 40k miles, BaT2026 · $50,000 · 2017 i8, 29k miles, BaT2026 · $70,000 · 2019 i8 Coupe, 16k miles, BaT2026 · $56,055 · 2017 i8 Protonic Frozen Yellow Edition, 28k miles, BaT $825.0K Gooding & Company, 2014
1111522232425262728
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
2014Launch price$135,700US base MSRP, 2014 model year
2014Price when new$135,700US base MSRP
2014Price when new$138,650US i8, as tested
2014Auction sale$825,0002014 Concours d’Elegance Edition (charity), Gooding & Company
2025Auction sale$55,0002014 i8, 13k miles, BaT
2025Auction sale$68,5002017 i8 Protonic Frozen Black Edition, 23k miles, BaT
2025Auction sale$70,0002020 i8 Roadster, 34k miles, BaT
2026Auction sale$42,8552015 i8, 40k miles, BaT
2026Auction sale$50,0002017 i8, 29k miles, BaT
2026Auction sale$70,0002019 i8 Coupe, 16k miles, BaT
2026Auction sale$56,0552017 i8 Protonic Frozen Yellow Edition, 28k miles, BaT

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 12 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 12 stories from its legend
    • “The $825,000 charity auction record”
    • “The world's first open-top safety car”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 6 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 28 sources
  1. 2014 BMW i8 First Test - Motor Trend motortrend.com
  2. 2014 BMW i8 | Dare to Dream Collection | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  3. Bmw i8 > Benoît JACOB : De Renault à BYTON en passant par BMW larevueautomobile.com
  4. BMW i8 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  5. BMW i8 (2014-2020) review – futuristic hybrid sports car now looks a bargain | evo evo.co.uk
  6. 2014 BMW i8 Test – Review – Car and Driver caranddriver.com
  7. The 2020 BMW i3s Edition RoadStyle and i8 Ultimate Sophisto Editions newsroom.bmwgroup.com
  8. Press release from BMW about the exclusive handover of our "Last 18" i8 Roadsters - BMW i8 Club e.V. bmw-i8.club
  9. 2019 BMW i8 Roadster First Drive: Cloth Roof, No Back Seat, More Money | Review | Car and Driver caranddriver.com
  10. Used BMW i8 review | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  11. 2014 BMW i8 Road Test & Review | Autoweb autoweb.com
  12. 2018 BMW i8 Roadster | Open Roads, The European Summer Auction | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  13. Model Archive for BMW models · Handover of the first BMW i8 Roadsters · Friday, 25th May 2018 · bmwarchive.org bimmerarchive.org
  14. BMW i3 and i8 Memphis Style: Art Car small series from Garage Italia bmwblog.com
  15. One of a Kind BMW i8 Fetches $825k at Auction - BimmerFile bimmerfile.com
  16. BMW M1 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  17. Acura NSX vs. BMW i8 vs. Lexus LC vs. Polestar 1 Comparison motortrend.com
  18. BMW i just blew the lid off the Formula E Safety Car - ABB FIA Formula E World Championship fiaformulae.com
  19. BMW i8 breaks out of Mission: Impossible and into the real world - Autoblog autoblog.com
  20. BMW i8: Projektleiter Carsten Breitfeld im Technik-Interview bimmertoday.de
  21. Used BMW i8 buying guide | DrivingElectric drivingelectric.com
  22. 40k-Mile 2015 BMW i8 for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $42,855 on October 5, 2026 (Lot #266,660) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  23. No Reserve: 29k-Mile 2017 BMW i8 for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $50,000 on September 16, 2026 (Lot #263,344) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  24. 16k-Mile 2019 BMW i8 Coupe for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $70,000 on April 1, 2026 (Lot #235,931) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  25. 28k-Mile 2017 BMW i8 Protonic Frozen Yellow Edition for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $56,055 on February 2, 2026 (Lot #228,688) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  26. No Reserve: 13k-Mile 2014 BMW i8 for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $55,000 on December 23, 2025 (Lot #224,630) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  27. 23k-Mile 2017 BMW i8 Protonic Frozen Black Edition for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $68,500 on July 20, 2025 (Lot #201,254) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  28. 2020 BMW i8 Roadster for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $70,000 on February 15, 2025 (Lot #180,508) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  • motortrend.com
  • rmsothebys.com
  • larevueautomobile.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • evo.co.uk
  • caranddriver.com
  • newsroom.bmwgroup.com
  • bmw-i8.club
  • autoexpress.co.uk
  • autoweb.com
  • bimmerarchive.org
  • bmwblog.com
  • bimmerfile.com
  • fiaformulae.com

Photo credits

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