The BMW i8 and M4: A Tale of Two Cars

As we compare the BMW i8 and M4, it's clear that these two cars couldn't be more different from one another. The BMW i8 is a hybrid electric mid-engine spaceship of a car, while the M4 is a traditional old-school front engine coupe with a turbocharged six-cylinder engine. Despite their many differences, however, both cars deliver performance that is eerily similar.

When it comes to straight-line acceleration, it's clear that the M4 takes the lead. The BMW i8 may be able to generate 4050 MPG if you just bumble about in it on the road, but when it comes to actual speed and acceleration, the M4 leaves it in the dust. However, this isn't to say that the BMW i8 is slow – far from it. In fact, once you get past the initial shock of seeing an electric car accelerate so quickly, it becomes clear that the i8 has a level of performance that is genuinely impressive.

One of the things that strikes me most about the BMW i8 is its handling. The steering is totally electric, but surprisingly good. The car's front end is well-designed, with a lot of feel to it – and the traction control system manages to deliver a great balance between grip and agility. However, as the driver takes their foot off the gas pedal, the rear axle is suddenly bereft of power, which means that the car behaves more like a conventional rear-wheel drive mid-engine car. But even in this state, the BMW i8 still delivers a level of handling that is nothing short of exceptional.

On the other hand, the M4 is a very different beast altogether. Its front engine and turbocharged six-cylinder engine deliver a level of power and acceleration that is unmatched by its electric counterpart – and yet, as we take it out for a spin on Castle's big Main Street, it becomes clear that this car has its own unique set of characteristics. For one thing, the steering of the M4 is absolutely superb – chunky, powerful, and utterly engaging. And while the brakes are pretty good, there's no question that this car feels heavy.

But despite its raw power, the M4 also has a strange side effect: it can make you feel like you're driving an old-fashioned, rear-wheel drive coupe from another era. As we navigate Corners at high speed, the car begins to lurch through the turn, which can be disconcerting – especially when compared to the BMW i8's smooth and seamless acceleration. And yet, as I sit in the driver's seat of the M4, watching the BMW i8 zip past me, I have to wonder: is it really possible for someone in a hybrid electric vehicle to have more fun driving than me?

As we continue our comparisons, one thing becomes clear: both cars are genuinely special – but in different ways. The BMW i8 is like a fine-tuned sports car from a sci-fi movie – it's fast, agile, and utterly fascinating to drive. But at the same time, it also has an air of strangeness about it that makes it feel almost otherworldly. On the other hand, the M4 is more like a traditional sports car from a bygone era – raw, unbridled, and utterly thrilling.

And yet, as I sit here watching the BMW i8 speed off into the distance, I have to admit that my heart isn't really in it anymore. The real fun begins when you take away all the electronic gizmos and gadgets and just let the car do what it does best – deliver a raw, unadulterated driving experience that leaves you grinning from ear to ear. In this sense, I think I would have to say that the BMW i8 is genuinely better than the M4 – because while it may not be as fast or as powerful, it's so much more fun to drive.

As we conclude our comparisons, one thing becomes clear: both cars are genuinely special in their own ways. The BMW i8 is like a fine-tuned sports car from a sci-fi movie – it's fast, agile, and utterly fascinating to drive. And the M4, on the other hand, is more like a traditional sports car from a bygone era – raw, unbridled, and utterly thrilling. But in the end, it's not really about which car is better or faster – it's about which one makes you feel alive.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe BMW i8 and M4 could hardly be more different from one another if they tried the I8 is a hybrid electric mid-engine spaceship of a car while the M4 is a traditional old Thumper of a front engine Coupe all beer with a turbocharged six-cylinder engine to give it the power that's expected of an end car with the emissions and economy that isn't but despite their many differences the performance they generate is spooky similar so which one's quickest and which is the most fun to drive I think this is one of the best parts of our job doing tests like this can of BMW i8 stay with a BMW M4 around Castle goon sadly in a straight line I think the answer is no as you can see the M4 has just disappeared away from me down the big Main Street but you know it doesn't stop you just being doesn't stop me being just thoroughly and completely intrigued and impressed by the I8 you know it's it's more than fast enough to keep a well driven M4 well within sight and yeah you know it does kind of 4050 MPG if you just bumble about in it on the road and you know what it's it's a proper car it's proper sports car the I8 it's got you know really good front end on it the steering is totally electric totally fake but actually as a fake it's a very good one they've managed to engineer an awful lot of feel into it and it's got really good traction obviously it's mid enged unfortunately i' I've I've run out all the electronic juice which means the front axle isn't lit which means it's behaving as a conventional rear rear wheel drive Mid Engine car because the electric power Powers the front axle which makes it four-wheel drive it's it's only it's only working as rear wheel drive two wheel drive like this because there's no electric power left but I just love the way the I8 goes down the road I really do I mean it's it does everything that a proper sports car should do with all sorts of other intriguing stuff thrown into it as well I love it I really do it's got more than enough performance it is genuinely proper good fun to drive okay now the the I8 isn't quite fast enough to live with an M4 around a racetrack like Castle but I mean it's it's pretty close it's close enough and yet just about everything else it does it's it's just so interesting a car it's it's just so interesting on so many different levels and yet if you take all that kind of Electro stuff away and the ecological benefits of it Etc it's just a really good thing to drive and that's why love the I8 and I think I it should be the M4 that I want to have one more lap in but it's not it's this thing W that's quite a weird sensation sitting in an M4 watching the I8 in front it's amazing looking car the I8 but it just looks like it looks really skinny and narrow so the M4 chunky steering absolute Powerhouse of a engine I tell you what though the I8 is I'm having to drive the M4 really pretty hard to stay with the I8 the8's got lots of body roll in front of me I don't yeah right at the top right at the top end of the m4's Power Band it really starts to to pull the I8 back in it does look peculiar following the I8 as well it just looks like it's got no grip at all yeah very interesting I like the steering of the M4 I like it quite a lot actually the brakes are pretty good but it it does feel heavy just feels too heavy for a car to have an end badge on it but I mean there's no question about it being quick than the I8 around here no question at all it's really interesting I'm I'm kind of sitting here not having to do that much in the end4 watching the I8 kind of almost kind of be to CV like in the way it lurches through some Corners cuz it's really it's really quite softly suspended but it kind of looks like the the I8 whoever is in the I8 is having more fun do I mean that is that really right that somebody in an hybrid electric vehicle could be having more fun than me in the new M4 yes I do mean it even though the M4 is unquestionably faster really interesting one though I can't help thinking okay thoughts are the I8 is so much better and so much more fun than you expect it to be and the M4 is the exact other way around it should be more fun it should be more hilarious to drive and it isn't oh well\n"