bmw i8 2017 vs audi r8 2017
bmw i8
Like it or not, the BMW i8 is a bold look into the future and, if it all goes to plan, the shape of things to
come
About 19 months ago, yours truly ventured to Lake Moses, Washington, to visit a manufacturing plant. Normally, this is not my kind of thing—one car factory is the same as the next, give or take. But in this factory, they weren’t making cars, they were making carbon fibre, the notoriously expensive and ultra-lightweight material that automakers have been toying with for decades
The plant, a joint venture between the BMW Group and carbon experts SGL Group, is a key building block that could well determine whether BMW i – the sub-brand responsible for the BMW i3 and BMW i8 – will ultimately prove successful. Alternative-fuel vehicles are still not a sure thing for a few reasons, one of the main ones being their sticker price related to petrol or diesel options
But BMW claims to have a substantial edge over its competitors because its carbon fibre is just as strong and as light as that made by other companies, but it costs less to produce. Enter the 2015 BMW i8, a plug-in hybrid sports car that is infused with the advanced material. The result: a relatively light vehicle, a proper performer and one that doesn’t cost $1.5 million
The stellar performance capabilities of the BMW start from the ground up. The car’s platform consists of a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell fastened to an aluminium chassis. The lithium-ion battery pack is mounted underneath the floor and in the middle of the vehicle. This design ensures a low centre of gravity and close to 52:50 weight distribution. The i8 also boasts a kerb weight of just 1585kg—or about 45kg lighter than a BMW M235i
audi r8
The 2017 Audi R8 V10 is at once cool sophistication, elegant simplicity, masterful engineering and mechanical savagery. Before the R8, the marque from Ingolstadt didn’t have a technological flagship of this nature. RS-badged vehicles were capable and fast, but not quite in this orbit
The R8 is a different beast entirely. As such, the world has been saying thank you, ever since the
German manufacturer bought supercar flagship Lamborghini
On that subject, there is plenty of content sharing under the skin. The platform might be virtually identical, but having driven both recently, there’s genuine difference between the two from behind the wheel. The R8 definitely plays the understated role with more aplomb, regardless of the blinding ‘Vegas Yellow’ that shrouds our test example
There are subtle differences to the throttle pedal feel, the tuning of the engine, the AWD system and the day-to-day liveability. The R8 for one, doesn’t need a nose lift system to traverse most inner-city driveways and speed humps without even a hint of touching down
Both are epic supercars, but there’s an overarching sense that seems altogether less intimidating about the Audi. It could be all in the mind, but we spent an enjoyable week trying to work out exactly what it is
As tested, the 2017 Audi R8 V10 starts from $356,900 plus on-road costs. Our test model has only two options, but neither of them is especially ‘cheap’. The extended fine Nappa leather upholstery and trim package with coloured contrasting stitching costs, wait for it, $24,840. The side blade in gloss carbon is slightly more reasonable at $7000. All up then, you can have this very R8 V10 for $386,010 plus on road costs
In city driving, the brakes on the i8 are dogged by that old, vague, regenerative brake feel that has affected so many hybrids. Then, while diving down the canyon roads at speed, the brakes felt underpowered, locked up under duress and generally didn’t inspire much confidence. There’s an opportunity here – without a doubt, a true sports car needs better binders
From an aesthetic standpoint, the BMW i8 is unlike anything else on the road today. Even in car-obsessed Los Angeles, it never failed to draw a crowd. The design is aerodynamic and decidedly bold. Inside, the BMW sets new standards in eco-luxury; recycled and recyclable materials are used throughout and the feel of all them is high-grade. The i8 is certainly the most luxurious car in its current fleet
The passenger cabin is of the 2+3 variety. There are two back seats, but they are tiny. The scissor-style doors open upwards, leaving a relatively wide access point. To enter the car, you back in by sliding across the wide, carbon fibre door sill, then drop into the seat, as you would on a race car. The handle to close the door behind you should be within easy reach of most people. It sounds difficult, but it isn’t compared to other exotic cars with “non-traditional” doors. There is a small storage compartment in the
boot, but the back seats are also suitable as package shelves
The Quattro drivetrain delivers outstanding grip and assurance and yes, it might exhibit some hint of FWD characteristics at the limit, but you’re utterly full of it if you think you’ll find that limit on the road. Therefore, most Australian buyers won’t even know about it
Having driven the R8 V10 on-track at its international launch, I’m well aware of how potent this car is when you get to properly stretch its legs. It might not be quite as fast as the Huracan in outright terms, but it’s blindingly fast when you get a chance to let it off the leash
The start button and drive mode button are positioned on the steering wheel and never get in the way of your whirling hands, while at the same time adding to the racecar cred. The decluttered centre console design is beautiful in its simplicity and benefits from the removal of a screen altogether thanks to Virtual Cockpit
Despite the compact nature of the cabin design, the broad dash, large glasshouse and clean console ensure it never feels claustrophobic. It feels very Audi, but also very comfortable. We knocked over a three-hour drive with zero fatigue. Only the fact that we had to limit the number of kilometres we added to the odometer stopped us from driving on. And on
The brakes are monumentally effective and seem fade resistant, certainly on the road anyway, and the steering precision is also noteworthy. Few cars are so rewarding, and effortless to drive at speed, and the R8 does it all so easily
AUDI R8 BREAKDOWN
