Powertrain families
B38 turbo petrol · Gen2 plug-in-hybrid eDrive
i8 (I12/I15) — Coupe
2014–2020
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- I12
- Production
- 2014–2020
- Body style
- 2-door coupe
- Platform
- BMW i · electric / PHEV
Body variants
i8 → I12/I15 → Coupe
i8 I12/I15: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected coupe fits into the family.
I12 i8 combined a carbon-fibre passenger cell and aluminium drive module with a plug-in-hybrid all-wheel-drive system: a rear-mounted 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine drove the rear axle while an electric motor drove the front. The architecture and scissor-door body were purpose-built BMW i technology, not a conventional BMW coupé conversion.
The original coupé launched in 2014. A larger battery and system update accompanied the I15 Roadster in 2018; the open body has its own structure, seating, roof and luggage data and must not inherit coupé figures.
Leipzig ended production in April 2020 after more than 20,000 i8 vehicles. Edition names changed colour and equipment, while coupé/roadster and pre-/post-2018 technical boundaries determine the actual powertrain records.
2014–2020generation lifecycle
2body branches
2engine/drive families
2range designations
I12/I15factory code
BMW i · electric / PHEVarchitecture
Coupe: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,689 mm
Width1,942 mm
Height1,297 mm
Wheelbase2,800 mm
Luggage154 L
Fuel tank30 L
Seats4
Doors2-door coupe
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented coupe applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| i8 Coupé (20 Ah) | 2014–2018 | B38K15T0 1.5 L turbo + front electric motor · 7.1 kWh gross | 362 hp system | 6AT + 2-speed electric | electric AWD | Global range | The BMW i8 |
| i8 Coupé (34 Ah) | 2018–2020 | B38K15T0 1.5 L turbo + front electric motor · 11.6 kWh gross | 374 hp system | 6AT + 2-speed electric | electric AWD | Global range | The new BMW i8 Roadster and BMW i8 Coupé |
Factory designations
i8 Coupe · i8 Roadster
Electric drive
Traction motors, battery and charging hardware are derivative-, market- and production-date-specific.
High-voltage battery
Usable capacity, cell chemistry and charge rate can change during the lifecycle and must follow factory specifications.
Plug-in hybrid
The i8 combustion and electric sides are documented as one integrated powertrain.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: BMW i · electric / PHEV. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- I12: 4,689 mm × 1,942 mm × 1,297 mm
- I15: 4,689 mm × 1,942 mm × 1,291 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
Production i8 presented
BMW finalised the carbon-bodied plug-in-hybrid sports-car concept.
Coupé market launch
The I12 entered worldwide sale with electric front and combustion rear drive.
Roadster and battery update
I15 joined alongside a higher-capacity battery and revised system output.
Production ends
Leipzig completed the i8 lifecycle after more than 20,000 cars.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Coupe
I12i8 I12 is a distinct I12/I15 body branch. A lower-roof two-door body with longer doors and a more overtly sporting brief than the corresponding sedan. Engines/drive: B38 turbo petrol, Gen2 plug-in-hybrid eDrive.
Roadster
I15i8 I15 is a distinct I12/I15 body branch. A purpose-designed two-seat open sports car with compact packaging and a driver-focused cockpit. Engines/drive: B38 turbo petrol, Gen2 plug-in-hybrid eDrive.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- I12 — Coupe; I15 — Roadster
- Range designations
- i8 Coupe, i8 Roadster
- Powertrain families
- B38 turbo petrol, Gen2 plug-in-hybrid eDrive
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW i8Wikipedia contributors
Secondary development, body, battery and production overview.
- 02The BMW i8BMW Group PressClub
Factory I12 launch and original plug-in-hybrid system specification.
- 03The BMW i8: From vision to iconBMW Group PressClub
Factory April 2020 end date, total and coupé/roadster scope.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- I12 coupé and I15 roadster require separate body, battery-era and luggage records.
- Concept-car figures and special-edition names must not become series-production powertrain rows.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026