BMW News

For the last 35 years, the BMW M1—the first car to wear the M badge—has made most BMW fanatics very excited. For the last 35 weeks, most of those same BMW enthusiasts have shared a similar excitement with the BMW i8. Both cars are visually stunning, high-performance, and cutting edge sports cars.

Most BMW nuts would love to get their hands on just one of these beauties, let alone two. For must of us, it’s not going to happen. But it did happen recently for Auto Express, and they made a video comparing the two, just to see how the breed has evolved over three and a half decades.

Between the i8’s three-cylinder turbocharged internal combustion engine and electric motor, the newer car generates 357 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque to move its 3,455 pounds around. The M1 contained a good old-fashioned—well, it’s old fashioned now—3.5-liter inline six that pumped out 277 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, but the M1 only weighed 2,866 pounds. The i8 wins the power-to-weight ratio, especially when it comes to torque.

Auto Express’s track session was more of a test of the i8. The M1’s age and value may have resulted in it being driven with more care and sensitivity, but it was still clearly an outstanding performer.

The BMW i8 performed as you would expect with a newer, more powerful car, especially with the suspension enhancements and bigger, better brakes.

So sit back and enjoy the video. It will have to do until we can wangle some rides in the real thing.—Scott Blazey

 

[Photo and video courtesy of Auto Express.]