Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW i8 v Porsche 911 Carrera 2S Powerkit: drag race

The hybrid tech-fest that is the BMW i8, faces off against the more conventional Porsche 911 Carrera 2S Powerkit

BMW i8 v Porsche 911 Carrera 2S Powerkit: drag race

The BMW i8 is an incredibly impressive piece of kit, combining sports car performance with hybrid economy thanks to its use of a tiny 1.5-litre three pot and electric motor. Providing a combined power output of 357bhp, the lightweight BMW has been touted as the sports car of the future.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Porsche 911 Carrera S is therefore a bit of a dinosaur in this battle. With 2.5 times the oil burning capacity, 3.8-litres of flat-six worth to be exact, the 430bhp Porsche produces more power, but it loses out to the electrically assisted i8 with 100lb ft of torque less than the Beemer’s 420lb ft.

The BMW does weigh in 90kg heavier than the 1395kg Porsche however, a concoction of lightweight carbonfibre and aluminium in the i8’s chassis not being able to counter the heavy battery unit stretched through the car’s centre.

That’s not to discredit BMW’s work in keeping weight under check however. To be within grasp of a conventional sports car is impressive given the amount of extra equipment and technology that’s crammed under the i8’s sleek body.

The cars may be vastly different under the skin, but they do both feature automatic gearboxes, launch control and prices not a world apart from each other. The i8 squeezes in at about £100,000, whilst the Porsche commands £9000 more thanks to its optional Powerkit.

Though the Porsche has the quicker 4.0sec sprint from 0-60mph on paper, the BMW’s superior and instant torque, combined with its four-wheel drive system could make it a real match for the rear-driven Porsche on a dusty Leicestershire runway.

This is therefore a test of real world performance. This is also the first time we’ve pitted a sports car for the next generation against one of the most established from this generation in a drag race. Can the high-tech BMW i8 humiliate one of our favourite sports cars, the 911 Carrera S? The video above has the answer...

Want to see more evo Drag Battles? Watch our Youtube playlist here, or subscribe to our channel.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Mandatory speed limiters to be fitted to all new UK cars in 2024
80mph motorway speed limit
News

Mandatory speed limiters to be fitted to all new UK cars in 2024

The use of mandatory speed limiters on all new cars was approved by the European Parliament in 2019, and they're set to come into force later this yea…
8 May 2024
The new Caterham Seven 485 Final Edition is the last naturally-aspirated Seven for Europe
Caterham Seven 485 Final Edition – front
News

The new Caterham Seven 485 Final Edition is the last naturally-aspirated Seven for Europe

Caterham will build just 85 examples of the Seven 485 Final Edition, marking the end of the model line in the European market
9 May 2024
FIA 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps 2024 – Jota takes victory in #12 Porsche 963
2024 FIA 6 Hours of Spa Francorchamps
News

FIA 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps 2024 – Jota takes victory in #12 Porsche 963

The FIA WEC TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps was host to a packed grid of the latest hypercars for 2024, alongside newcomers in the LMGT3 cl…
12 May 2024