Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW i8 and BMW M1 compared on track

Some say the BMW i8 features inspiration from the BMW M1. Here the two are tested on track...

evo isn't the only title to compare disparate vehicles on track. Our sister title Auto Express (also owned by Dennis Publishing) has been at it too, putting BMW's sports car of the moment - the plug-in hybrid BMW i8 - against its spiritual predecessor, the BMW M1.

The two might not share much mechanically - in fact, the BMW badge is probably the only component with any real similarity - but each features stunning styling and a mid-engined layout. Both are less powerful than you might have expected of a sports car in their respective time periods too, but offer appeal far beyond mere numbers.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Thirty years of development obviously gives the i8 very different performance characteristics to its predecessor, and its economy is even further removed. You'll have to watch the video to see whether one is more fun than the other though - and to see whether the BMW bloodline can be determined even in such different interpretations of the traditional mid-engined sports car.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

The £75k Genesis GV60 Magma performance EV has fake Porsche 911 sounds
Genesis GV60 Magma
News

The £75k Genesis GV60 Magma performance EV has fake Porsche 911 sounds

The GV60 Magma is up for order in July from £75k, as the first proper performance car from Genesis, with 641bhp and a simulated 9000rpm six-cylinder e…
28 May 2026
New Morgan Supersport 400 review – a real Porsche 911 rival with added power and focus
Morgan Supersport 400 front
Reviews

New Morgan Supersport 400 review – a real Porsche 911 rival with added power and focus

A 67bhp power hike makes this the most powerful Morgan road car ever, and one of the most exciting
27 May 2026
Rocketeer Mazda MX-5 review - the 340bhp V6 sports car you never knew you needed
Rocketeer Mazda MX-5 corner rear
Reviews

Rocketeer Mazda MX-5 review - the 340bhp V6 sports car you never knew you needed

By putting a 340bhp Jaguar V6 in Mazda's MX-5 specialist Rocketeer has created one of 2026's unexpected driving hits.
22 May 2026