Cars and Drivers
BMW's $150,000 'Electric' Car Sales Crater
Published:
Last Updated:
BMW has not offered any explanation why sales of the i8 coupe have imploded. BMW has only sold 331 of them in the first nine months of 2017, versus 1.089 in the same period a year ago — a drop of 70%.
BMW calls the i8 an “electrified vehicle,” which means in reality it is a hybrid. For wealthy buyers who want a real high-end electric vehicle sports car, this will not do. BMW promotes the engine configuration:
When a car looks this fast, it better live up to its appearance. The BMW i8 does exactly this with its innovative electric motor that sits on the front axle and the TwinPower Turbo 3-cylinder engine that drives the rear axle. When combined, they deliver a total output of 357 horsepower, 420 lb-ft of torque, and can reach 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds.
Even though the charging system for one engine works similarly to a Tesla, the three-cylinder engine makes the car both gas-powered and electric.
Without debate, the i8 is a supercar. It has an extraordinarily luxurious interior, futuristic construction with some parts of the car build from carbon fiber, and a zero to 60 mph performance of 4.2 seconds.
What are people in the market likely to buy if they bypass the hybrid i8 because they want a fully electric car? Probably the high-end Tesla Model S, the P100D. The $135,000 car has comparable features to the BMW i8 and has a zero to 60 mph performance of 2.5 seconds.
Like every other major car company, BMW has ambitious electric car plans and aspirations. The i8 has been a very poor start, so BMW has a long way to go.
The Average American Is Losing Momentum on Their Savings Every Day (Sponsor)
If you’re like many Americans and keep your money ‘safe’ in a checking or savings account, think again. The average yield on a savings account is a paltry .4%* today. Checking accounts are even worse.
But there is good news. To win qualified customers, some accounts are paying nearly 10x the national average! That’s an incredible way to keep your money safe and earn more at the same time. Our top pick for high yield savings accounts includes other benefits as well. You can earn up to 3.80% with a Checking & Savings Account today Sign up and get up to $300 with direct deposit. No account fees. FDIC Insured.
Click here to see how much more you could be earning on your savings today. It takes just a few minutes to open an account to make your money work for you.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
Our expert who first called NVIDIA in 2009 is predicting 2025 will see a historic AI breakthrough.
You can follow him investing $500,000 of his own money on our top AI stocks for free.