04-02-2014, 08:04 AM | #1 |
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The Unusual Launch of the BMW i8
Yesterday the new M3's and M4's configuration pages went live on bmwusa.com, which most people didn't think was weird...but I did. Those cars were announced almost three months to the day after the i8 (which was announced almost 4 years to the day since it debuted at Frankfurt as the Vision EfficientDynamics) and we still don't have the ability to configure an i8 on the US page or any country's page for that matter, including Germany.
Stranger still, i8 production is set to begin any day now and no final dealer order guide or cars in the order bank have appeared yet. Up to this point, it has sounded like they're going to build a batch of i8s in the middle of i3 production, take a break, and then make the second larger batch once the rush dies down. Now given that they expect July US deliveries of the first batch, all orders would need to finalized at MINIMUM 4-6 weeks before delivery and likely WAY sooner than that to provide a buffer for indecisive or hard to reach clients, sourcing the right parts, tweaking supply chain, etc. I'm more accustomed to 4-6 MONTHS between an order and delivery when it comes to limited-production cars (which is why I expected order details for the i8 to show up in November/December last year, but here we are four+ months later and still nothing). I'm sure they would like a month or two of buffer time between orders and production...which would mean right now, by the end of April AT THE LATEST. Either this is part of some grand plan to keep the i8 as mysterious as possible or there have been weird things going on behind the scenes. I don't mind waiting or delays as long as I'm not misled into thinking something is happening sooner than they know it will be. That and the fact there are camo'd prototypes still running while the factory is supposed to be spooling up is head scratching as well. The silence garners much more apprehension than mystique. I'm sure my sales guy is also wondering why he has nothing to tell me during the monthly email updates I've been getting since Sept. Maybe they just want to make sure everything is perfect the first go around (anyone that experienced the X5 launch and E46 M3 launch know that the first year was not usually the best year to buy) so they aren't saying anything until they're sure. It's just a weird feeling to have seen a car that's been in development for so long feel like it's coming in hot. And all of this is because I'm genuinely excited about the i8 and are eagerly awaiting its arrival. But BMW is making it hard to find any concrete info for people that are waiting to buy one. At this point I know WAY more about cars like the Porsche 918 and McLaren P1. I even know pricing, options, and delivery dates for the McLaren 650S that was announced 6 weeks ago. I really hope they inform those of us with orders or at least the dealerships about sales. If you exclude the press releases and videos about tech, the only solid if we've gotten from BMW was an announcement of production and starting price in September last year and an announcement that production would begin in April. This could all be moot if I get a call to finalize my order or the configuration page shows up soon. But this situation is getting to be as unique as the i8 itself. Last edited by Carac; 04-02-2014 at 04:47 PM.. |
04-02-2014, 01:27 PM | #2 |
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Same with dealer allocation details. I am not first on the list but would like to know if I have a 1 year or 2 year wait in front of me......and I have a fantastic relationship with my dealership and the GM.
Fingers crossed. |
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04-02-2014, 03:52 PM | #3 |
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@Carac, agreed it is weird. Not even a second picture of the i8 key has shown up yet! With the recent event in Vegas surely there will be some more info, but still nothing. I know it was discussed that the info was to be held back from that event, along with any articles and such; it seems BMW is tightly controlling any info about the i8 at this point. If they're experiencing issues with the car, along with all the building up of it, I think delaying it until they get things sorted (whatever that may be) is a good strategy. It would be nice to hear something along those lines, as you state.
Keep us posted. @ChiTownM, I've seen several posts here and elsewhere talk about a dealer who is purportedly getting 8 i8 allocations the first year. I am skeptical. Beyond that, what I've heard is every dealer gets basically 1 allocation for the first year, and not all dealers in the US are even getting an allocation. So, if you are not first on the list, you're not getting a first year car. Likely a year 2 car. If you're more than 3rd or 4th, expect a year 3 car. There's a guy on Bimmerfest that mentioned he's down for a year 3 car, but didn't say how far down the list he was. An article posted here earlier mentioned annual production of 5000 i8's worldwide; if more than 1500 of them make it to the US in years 2+, then I wouldn't expect any dealer to have more than 2-4 allocations per year after the first year of low supply. I also think, like the Z8, there will not be a very long run of the i8. Maybe 3-4 years. |
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04-02-2014, 04:34 PM | #4 |
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Carac, ChiTownM and ddk632, I too am anxiously awaiting any news on the i8 production, having put down a deposit and being first on my dealer's list. I'm starting to feel like a father awaiting the delivery of his first child that is overdue.
I was half expecting someone to pull a cruel joke on April Fools day announcing that that they had received word from their dealer that the car was now available for ordering. Something tells me that once production info starts flowing, a lot will be released at the same time. Still waiting to read those reviews from the Las Vegas event of several weeks ago. |
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04-02-2014, 04:53 PM | #5 |
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Ha!
I thought about photoshopping an i8 into my driveway and a photo of me ridiculously happy standing next to the car, but felt it would be too wrong on too many levels with what's going on with the i8 launch... |
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04-02-2014, 05:52 PM | #6 |
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I had a short chat with my local dealer the other day, expressing interest in the i8. He had visited the production facilities, and it was a long way from an i3-like assembly line. Basically there were "4 guys pushing cars around". I am guessing the i8 will be mostly hand built for a while.
I didn't ask how long ago this was, so for all I know things are different now. But even though I expect production numbers to be low initially, it sounds very odd that some customers have been told or is guessing that they won't receive a car until year 3. |
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04-12-2014, 09:28 AM | #7 |
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Stopped by another local dealer today (the one that wanted a $5k non-refundable deposit to be 8th in line) and asked if they had heard anything. Says they still have no specifics, order guide, etc. Also said that their higher end cars can take anywhere 8-12 weeks from a allocation being made available to having it show up if they place it the day it shows up. Says he's surprised they don't have an order guide since they already have one for the M3/M4 and orders are going in, but it won't be here until the fall. His 2 cents was that if a guide doesn't show in 2 weeks, they probably won't see one until after the announced July ETA. Maybe something will happen at the NY Auto Show next week in regards to news.
My new car purchase trigger finger is itching and I just want someone from BMW to say "No. Really. July." I can wait on a sure thing. Last edited by Carac; 04-12-2014 at 11:14 AM.. |
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04-12-2014, 04:01 PM | #9 |
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Obviously different markets might have different launch dates, build slots, etc. But the official i8 launch events at UK dealerships are scheduled for 19th July.
Selected UK customers are being invited to see the car this forthcoming week. So I'll be seeing the car for the first time in real life this Wednesday First UK (customer) production cars are to arrive in Q4 this year. |
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04-12-2014, 04:40 PM | #10 |
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Looks like I might see you there, either going on Monday or Wednesday... Been quoted very end of december as preliminary delivery date so Q4 ties in with what I have been told. What color are you thinking at the moment? I've specked white but still not 100% decided between white, grey and silver.
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04-12-2014, 05:49 PM | #11 | |
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From the pictures, it looks amazing in white, especially in the 'centrefold' (pages 7 & 8) of the UK brochure! I'm going with Sophisto Grey with iBlue accents, seen as I prefer my cars in black (and the Sophisto Grey is as close to black as you can order on the i8). It was supposed to be a cost option, but they've now made it the standard colour (so that's saved me a few quid LOL). As for the wheels, I've come to the conclusion that i Turbine spokes suit the i8 best (IMHO), as although the i W-spoke wheels look cool on most of the press pics of the Sophisto Grey cars, the spokes are very angular, which is not in keeping with the i8's fluid lines. What wheels are you leaning towards? T |
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04-12-2014, 07:34 PM | #12 |
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Hey you guys make sure to take and post some photos of the event!
Fwiw, I've seen the white i8 in person and it's gorgeous... I saw the i8 live 3 separate times, in 2 US states.. But it was the same car they were shipping around so I've only seen the white one! Honestly though, I think no matter the combo, this car is going to look great. |
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04-13-2014, 06:06 AM | #13 | |
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Wheels wise, I like both the W spokes and the turbines but went for the Ws as they look a bit more aggressive and unique. I have seen the silver UK car at Park Lane and it has the 'flat' wheels which I really dislike. The gray UK car has the Ws so will be my first chance to see them in real life. If you haven't yet seen pictures of the interior (I would assume you have), the blue lights/accents look amazing in real life and really give the car a futuristic, tron like look. Have you heard anything about the UK availability of laser lights? They were not an option when I was specking it in the system but online (http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicle...om/design.html) says available from Nov 2014 (before our deliveries). Last edited by Peggsy; 04-13-2014 at 06:08 AM.. Reason: .. |
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04-13-2014, 01:50 PM | #14 | |
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04-13-2014, 03:49 PM | #15 | |||
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Did you not manage to get a hard copy of the January brochure / price list? My local dealer gave one to me after I saw (and downloaded) the electronic version which was posted on here. Your dad's coming to the event as well... how did you manage to blag that?!? LOL. The dealership I'm dealing with is only allowed to bring 3 guests (2 other clients that have ordered the car, and myself). Would be great to bring a +1, but there are strictly limited places to this preview. As per the "Q4 delivery date", I didn't want to quote something which may have been supposed to be 'kept quiet'. But seen as it's on the BMW.com website... I can confirm that at last Wednesday's BMW briefing, BMW said that Laser Lights will be available to spec on cars from Nov-14. So as long as your spec hasn't been frozen by then, you should still be able to amend the spec to add them (if you're prepared to foot the no-doubt expensive optional cost!). My car is estimated to be a November build, so I will assess the Laser Light situation prior to spec freeze. As for your link, that's interesting, as I had been regularly checking for any updates on the following BMW.co.uk page (which doesn't mention any status wrt laser lights):- http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/new-vehic...13/design.html Regarding the wheels, I too like my cars to look aggressive, and I agree the Ws give the car an edgy appearance. TBH the wheel design is is one of the few things I'm not 100% certain about Just to clarify, the design I'm leaning towards atm are the i Turbine spoke 625 design (not the i Turbine spoke 444 design which I'm guessing you were referring to as the "flat wheels" which you really disliked(?)) Hopefully see you on Wednesday. Cheers, T |
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04-13-2014, 06:22 PM | #16 |
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I think the Geneva show last month was the first time they had put together the 625-style turbines with Sophisto Grey. I think they compliment the curves of the car well.
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04-14-2014, 02:16 PM | #17 |
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The other thing that seems odd to me about the current lack of information on the i8 has to do with the mid-March launch event in Las Vegas. Scott26 confirmed this was for media only and was a launch event, but I haven't heard or seen boo about it since then. I keep hoping we'll see some review articles emanating from it, but now I'm starting to wonder if it even occurred.
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04-14-2014, 03:33 PM | #18 | |
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04-14-2014, 03:42 PM | #19 |
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It didn't happen.
The i8 was not there. I did not write this. Throw us a bone, BMW!!! Just a small, carbon fiber reinforced plastic bone, is that too much to ask? |
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04-14-2014, 04:23 PM | #20 | |
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Happy to wait to make sure BMW gets it right. I8 will succeed as low numbers but think the i3 is going to struggle unless BMW can get the price down and improve pace of production. |
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04-14-2014, 05:04 PM | #21 | |||
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As for the i8's low numbers, you may well be right. BMW were obviously anticipating selling the i3 in higher numbers than the i8 (due to the affordability of the car to consumers). BTW, are you going to any of the UK preview events this week? T |
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04-22-2014, 10:46 PM | #22 |
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Chris Harris just posted something about Press Event, i8, and L.A.
Answers soon? |
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