If you aren't familiar, Chris Harris is one of the better journalists out there. He's made a name for himself by getting into arguments with Ferrari->ke252 -- and more importantly -- destroying tires (or tyres since he's English). The one thing that's always great about a Chris Harris video->ke278 review, is how well he can diagnose a car. He's been in the game a long time and has driven everything from ancient, decrepit Citroen 2CV's to hypercars like the McLaren P1->ke4608 and LaFerrari. This makes him very diverse, and able to enjoy many different types of car, he doesn't limit himself to old muscle cars with manual gearboxes or modern high-tech sports cars with all the newest of gadgets. He simply enjoys cars for what they are, he's a proper gearhead (or petrolhead because again...English). So when he put out this video driving the i8, I payed attention.

The i8->ke4622 is a technological powerhouse, using technologies and techniques not available on anything in its price range. It has a mid-mounted, 1.5-liter, turbocharged, three-cylinder engine, making 228 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 129-horsepower electric motor to make a combined power out put of 362 ponies. The benefit of electric power is the instantaneous torque, and when combined with the turbo three-banger, the i8 produces a whopping 420 pound-feet of it. All this is sent through a variation of the six-speed auto in the new Mini Cooper (the engine is also carried over from the Mini), and delivered to all four wheels.

The chassis of the i8 is a monocoque tub made from CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic), so it's incredibly light for a hybrid with big heavy batteries. The i8 weighs only 3,378 pounds. This makes it heavier than both the Corvette Stingray->ke4603 (3,298 pounds) and the Porsche 911 Carrera (3,042 pounds), but since the chassis is made out of CFRP and the batteries are laid out down the spine of the car, it feels much lighter and more nimble than it's weight would suggest. This is also aided by the fact that it has that 420 pound-feet of torque from almost the second you touch the accelerator. In the video Chris explains how it doesn't feel as pure and organic as a 911 but it's close, and with all of the new technologies, it brings new exciting elements to the table.

Then there's the look of the thing. To these eyes it's the most interesting looking car on the road today, if not the most beautiful. This gives the Jag F-Type->ke1224 a run for it's money. It's not beautiful in the classic sense, but it is stunning in a modern art sort of way. It looks like the future, and it sort of is. Sports cars need to become fuel efficient nowadays and the new i Division cars are paving the way for that green future. I'm not a fan of electric cars->ke1030 but this one has me intrigued and it intrigues Chris as well. Real gearheads can appreciate when something is new and innovative, when it pushes the ball forward, and that's exactly what you see here in the i8 and exactly what Chris talks about while driving it. Watch the video, it won't disappoint.

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