Soft-top plug-in hybrid sports car joins coupe sibling in getting more all-electric driving range.
Whoa, it’s about time!
After unveiling its open-top intentions for the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car in 2012 with the Concept Spyder, BMW has finally revealed the production-ready version called i8 Roadster.
Making its world premiere at the Los Angeles motor show this week, the i8 Roadster comes with a soft-top that can open in 15sec at speeds of up to 50kph.
And the good thing is that the i8 Roadster maintains the sassy gullwing doors of the Coupe and has a distinctive orange hue and 20-inch alloys to choose from.
Unlike its hard-top 2+2 sibling, the rag-top is a strict two-seater to make way for roof storage. As a result, the i8 Roadster’s cargo space is said to be the same as in the i8 Coupe.
How has the electric driving range been improved?
BMW says the cell capacity of the lithium-ion battery has been uprated from 20 to 34Ah; power of the electric motor also goes up from 12 to 143hp to help increase the all-electric driving range from 37 to 53km.
The 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol-turbo engine produces the same 231hp, although combined output is now rated at 374hp. These improvements have also been extended to the i8 Coupe for 2018 albeit a slightly higher 55km electric range; the i8 Coupe is also 0.2sec faster from 0-100kph, at 4.4sec.
Are there any other upgrades for the i8?
Yes they are, as BMW wants to bring the improvements to both models at the same time.
Inside, there’s a new head-up display, infotainment with additional touchscreen function and new carbon trim.
The i8 Roadster and updated i8 Coupe goes on sale early next year with Thai prices hovering around the 12 million baht mark.
