In the luxury car market, BMW cars are top-rated. These vehicles offer a unique driving experience and are known for their performance and style. A BMW is an excellent option if you’re looking for an electric sports car that’s sure to turn heads.
The electric sports cars that BMW has introduced in the past years include the BMW i8 Plug-in Hybrid Sports Car (i8 Coupe and i8 Roadster) and the BMW i4 M50.
Keep reading to find out more about these futuristic BMW sports cars. You can also read our article about electric car transmissions.
1. 2020 BMW i8 Electric Sports Car
As electric vehicles become increasingly popular, even luxury car manufacturers are getting in on the action. BMW is one of the latest ones to do so with its line of electric sports cars. These sleek and powerful machines are sure to grab attention — not to mention being good for the environment.
BMW presented the i8 as a Vision Efficient Dynamic concept car back in 2009 before it was made available in 2014. It was the first production plug-in hybrid sports car, so it isn’t purely electric. However, it ceased production in 2020, bringing an end to this aerodynamically sophisticated iconic vehicle.
Nonetheless, let’s look at the two versions of the BMW i8.
2020 BMW i8 Coupe Overview
The Coupe i8, a plug-in hybrid sports car, was launched by BMW in 2014 as part of its new i8 series. This all-wheel-drive electric sports car model ran on a combination of a hybrid synchronous electric motor, BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, and a 1.5-litre three-cylinder gasoline engine.
The car’s power from the gasoline engine was transferred to the rear wheels through a six-speed auto- transmission, while the electric motor drove the front wheels. The result was an innovative hybrid-specific all-wheel drive (AWD) system.
Here’s a table to help you better understand the features of the BMW i8 Coupe.
| Feature | |
| Top Speed | 155 mph (250 kph) |
| Electric Range | 34 miles (55km) |
| Acceleration | 0 to 60 mph (96.5 kph) in 4.2 seconds |
| Engine/Transmission | 1.5L Turbocharged 3-cylinder +2 Electric Motors and 11.6 kWh Battery Pack |
| Drive | AWD |
2020 BMW i8 Roadster Overview
The aerodynamically designed body of this two-seat Roadster featured gullwing doors as well as a soft top. With its stylish design and advanced technology, this sports car stood out.
Although the 2020 BMW i8 Roadster looked sleek, it’s not one of the fastest electric sports cars. In terms of performance, it fell slightly behind some of its competitors.
Let’s take a brief look at its features below.
| Feature | |
| Top Speed | 155 mph (250 kph) |
| Electric Range | 33 miles (53 km) |
| Acceleration | 0 to 60 mph (96.5 kph) in 4.4 seconds |
| Engine/Transmission | 1.5L Turbocharged 3-cylinder +2 Electric Motors and 11.6 kWh Battery Pack |
| Drive | AWD |
2. 2022 BMW i4 M50
BMW launched the i4 M50 sedan in early 2022. The i4 M50 is not your typical sports car but a luxury-performance sports sedan, delivering a thrilling ride.
You can recognize the BMW i4 M50 by its huge double kidney grill with an M badge and the prominent air intakes on both sides. Despite its heavy weight, nearly 5018 lbs (2276 kg), this EV is very fast. In fact, it’s one of the fastest BMW cars, reaching 60 mph (97 kph) in just 3.9 seconds.
Here are the features and specs of the 2022 BMW i4 M50.
| Feature | |
| Top Speed | 140 mph (225 kph) |
| Range,19″ (48.26 cm) wheels | 270 miles (434.5 km) |
| Acceleration | 0 to 60 mph (96.5 kph) in 3.9 seconds |
| Transmission/Motor | 2 Electric Motors 536 hp81.5 kWh Battery Pack |
| Drive | AWD |
| Weight | Est. 5018 lbs (2276 kg) |