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The BMW i8 will be a very valuable car to own one day, and now is the time to buy one, because it's surprisingly cheap for the iconic car it is.

When the BMW i8 looked like the car of the future, it got interestingly popular. To a large extent, this BMW was an intelligent child that did not have to go to college, because he already knew everything; it is also perhaps one of the most important cars in history.

It brought technology to its segment that had its rival's eyes pop out of their sockets. While millionaires were shelling out lots of money for hybrid hypercars like the McLaren P1, BMW brought out a car just as sophisticated, but one that would take on the world's bast-handling sports car: the Porsche 911 - and that meant, it was going to be affordable.

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The i8 goes as fast as any supercar, but with the running costs of a hot hatch, it had what more expensive hypercars did not. It came with two gearboxes, three electric motors - and wait for it - a 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine. With the aid of hi-tech lithium-ion batteries and torque being sent to all four wheels, this was not your average Joe.

It was draped in lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber-reinforced plastic seen only in a Formula 1 car. It shook up the sports car establishment and made cars like the 911 a bit ashamed of themselves.

When BMW revealed the production i8, the world thought it still remained a concept. Here's a fun fact: this was BMW's first-ever model featuring plug-in hybrid technology. The mid-engined layout sparked off a lot of debate, with conversations going as far back as the M1 supercar from the late '70s.

While the i8 is not around as a new car anymore, ever since it stopped being produced in 2020, it can still be had in the used car market for some unbelievably affordable prices, starting from as low as $57,000, while cars in greater condition can be had for a little under $75,000. Hurry up, because it won't be long until the value of BMW's i8 skyrockets!

It's not hard to imagine a car's value shooting up only for the way it looks. It's going to take ages for the car's shape to, erm, age. The design is now 9 years old but doesn't look like it. It looks every bit like a sports car with its long wheelbase, low-slung stance, and those short overhangs. The surfaces, contrasting colors, and edgy lines make it museum-worthy.

The contours along the side windows and the shapely wheel arches are a result of an imaginative design team, working together to create art. On top of that, imagine having dihedral doors on a sports car in the Porsche 911's segment. They're also unique because they're made to be light and easy to use.

The i8 is powered by the same 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder petrol engine from the Mini Cooper, but it sits behind the back seats and has been turbocharged to push out 234hp, with power sent to the rear wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission.

At the front of the car sits a 132hp electric motor that works alongside the petrol engine, drawing charge from a high-voltage lithium-ion battery to power the front wheels with its own 2-speed automatic gearbox. With both working together, the total output is 367hp, which may seem a bit less at first, but take into account the 420 lb-ft of torque it has from the get-go, enough to chase down a 911.

The 2014 model seems to have proven to be quite reliable, with just one recall, primarily due to a fuel tank bolt not welded to specification. This could lead to a fuel leak, and in the presence of an ignition source, it could catch fire as well.

The 2015 model was reported to have issues related to the electronic stability control, while two complaints were engine-related. In 2016, there was just one tire-related problem that was reported. The 2017 model had no complaints, but one recall included the seat-mounted airbags not deploying.

There were no recalls or complaints for the 2018 model, but an investigation was carried out after an airbag inflator had been ruptured. The 2019 model had two recalls: one included a possible high-voltage electrical power shutdown and the risk of a charging cable catching fire.

One of the recalls for the 2020 model of the i8 included debris in the hybrid battery. Before you pick up an i8, we'd recommend you check all the electrical systems at a BMW service center.

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Put the gearstick into Sport, and the dashboard graphics begin to flash in orange color. The engine kicks in, and with power being sent to all four wheels, 0-60mph comes up in just 4.4 seconds, while you can push it to a top speed of 155mph. The steering gets heavier, the dampers get firm and the sound piped through the speakers adds excitement.

Rehan got published for the first time at the age of 17, having written a feature on a Triumph Herald in print. He uses his writing as a tool to express his fondness for all things automotive even today, aged 28. Collecting scale models is a hobby close to his heart, and he wishes to sprinkle pixie dust on them only to see them grow into full-sized cars. He now represents HotCars.com.