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

Ford Puma review – the best-seller that’s still no patch on the Fiesta
Ford Puma
In-depth reviews

Ford Puma review – the best-seller that’s still no patch on the Fiesta

The Ford Puma melds some of the Fiesta’s charm with big-selling crossover form factor, but we still miss a proper small Ford hatch
21 Aug 2026
Cupra Leon VZ review – Spain’s Golf GTI is better than Germany’s
Cupra Leon
In-depth reviews

Cupra Leon VZ review – Spain’s Golf GTI is better than Germany’s

The choice of full-sized front-drive hot hatches now doesn’t include the Civic Type R. Can the Cupra Leon VZ take the top spot?
25 Aug 2026
The 2-litre Mazda MX-5 is dead, but its replacement gets an upgrade
2027 Mazda MX-5 1.5
News

The 2-litre Mazda MX-5 is dead, but its replacement gets an upgrade

As emissions regulations close in, Mazda has announced the discontinuation of one of our favourite current sports cars on sale: the 2-litre MX-5. Than…
26 Aug 2026