Although BMW produces many sports cars and fast automobiles, it is nowhere near a supercar company. The closest to a mass production supercar that BMW has produced is the BMW i8, which is equipped with a mid-engine hybrid. Unfortunately, the BMW i8 only has the looks of a supercar, but lacks the capacity, performance and capabilities of one.
Why doesn’t BMW produce supercars?
Audi has the R8 Audi supercar, Lexus has the Lexus LFA, and Mercedes… well, Mercedes-Benz has a bunch of supercars to brag with. So, why hasn’t BMW produced one? The closest it gets to a supercar is the BMW i8. The i8 certainly gets there and surpasses in terms of looks, but in terms of performance is nowhere near the above-mentioned models.
The reason why Audi produced its R8 was that VAG owns Lamborghini and they have access to the same engines that are put in Lamborghinis.
In terms of performance, BMW’s M5 Competition coupe comes close to a supercar, with the astonishing 3.1 seconds time from 0 – 60 miles per hour, which is quicker than the Audi R8 supercar with a speed of 3.4. That alone speaks a lot about BMW. Although other brands manufacture Supercars, BMW puts a super performance in most of their vehicles.
The fastest BMW cars – M5 and M8 Competition
A few supercars can beat the 0 to 60 miles per hour time of the BMW M5 Competition and the BMW M8 Competition. They both score a time of 3.1 seconds with the BMW M8 Competition being slightly faster, due to its lighter curb weight. The two monstrously powerful cars are powered by the same drivetrain.
The BMW M5 Competition was introduced in 2018 with a TwinPower Turbo V8 4.4 L 600, which generates 600 horsepower and 553 lb ft of torque.
With an aggressive yet classical BMW look, the BMW Competition brings in sheer driving pleasure and power like no other BMW. Yet, it is also a good all-round car with 5 doors. It’s not your typical 2-seater sports car that can’t be used for anything else. It also has a 440-liter trunk that no other sports car can brag of.
Both of these vehicles are well equipped with innovative features, as if you are driving in an advanced 5 or 7 Series. The M package BMWs, as well as the M5 and M8 overall come in with comfort that no supercar can offer. Unlike most sports cars and supercars, the BMW Ms are 5 seaters with 4 doors, with the exceptions of BMW M2 and M1.
The closest BMW design to a supercar – BMW i8
BMW i8 is a plug-in hybrid sports car that was first developed by BMW in 2014. It accelerates from 0 to 62 miles per hour (0 to 100 km/h) in 4.4 seconds, which is a lot slower than the M5 and M8 competition, and also much slower than supercars like Audi R8 or a Lexus LFA.
Despite it not being a supercar, the BMW i8 in 2020, became the world’s top selling plug-in electric sports car, with over 20,000 global sales. It exceeded all the competitors combined in the relevant segment in terms of sales.
The BMW i8 has a sleek looking design that makes it look more powerful than it actually is. It has a capped top speed of 155 miles per hour (250 km/h).
On the other hand, this beautiful car offers 134 miles per gallon (2.1L per 100 km), which no other sports car can offer. All of this, of course, is thanks to the hybrid engine. When running on fuel alone, the BMW i8 has a mileage of 29 miles per gallon (6.7 L/ 100 km), which is still enviable.
The range of the 2020 model is 315 miles (507 kilometers), and it can run on electricity alone for 15 miles (24 kilometers). The gasoline engine it is equipped with is a 1.5 L l3 turbo B38A15T0 that provides the car with 228 horsepower. Whereas the hybrid synchronous motor gives it 129 horsepower more.
Combined, both engines make a total of 357 horsepower and a torque of 420 lb ft, which is nothing to brag about among sports cars and supercars. Despite the BMW i8 not being classified as a supercar, it still won several awards, including the Best Production Preview vehicle in 2013 and the AutoGuide’s 2015 Reader’s Choice Green Car of the year in 2014.
Surprisingly, it also won the 2015 UK Performance car of the year, despite it not being a very powerful BMW, compared to its rivals. The main reason for that might have been the high mileage per gallon the vehicle has.
FAQ
Which are the best performance BMW models throughout the years?
The best performance BMWs in the 20th century start with the 1956 BMW M5 507, a beautiful, but very expensive BMW. In the 1970s, the famous Batmobile 3.0 CSL 1972 came out and became a worldwide phenomenon. In the 1990s, the BMW 850CSI was the fastest. Yet, only one sports car BMW prototype has ever won the Le Mans, and that was the 1999 V12 LMR BMW.
What is a more affordable BMW sports car?
The BMW 2 Series is a subcompact entry-level sports vehicle that can be offered with an M package. You can also purchase the BMW M2 or the BMW Z Series, which are both slightly more affordable than the larger 5 Series or M5 cars. The BMW Z Series is a compact two-seater car that often comes in a convertible version.
How many miles can BMW sports cars last?
Most BMW sports cars can last more than 200,000 miles if they’re properly maintained and not driven over aggressively. The models produced before 2006 can last even longer, because of the plastic used in the production of their engines. Newer models are required by law to contain degradable reusable plastics that are easier to melt over the years of use.