BMW is ready to write another successful chapter of the i8 which has been the world’s highest selling plug-in hybrid sports car since its launch in 2014. Joining the 2018 BMW i8 Coupe in its success story is the all-new BMW i8 Roadster.
The i8 Roadster is equipped with an electrically operated soft-top which adds a whole experience of open-top Sheer Driving Pleasure by offering the combination of virtually silent motoring with zero CO2 emissions and high-calibre performance.
The new BMW i8 Roadster is built on the LifeDrive vehicle architecture with aluminium chassis and carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell, just like the new BMW i8 Coupe. Both the models are powered by the optimised BMW eDrive technology. The electric cars now have increased dynamic performance and operating range. With the improved system it is now possible to drive more using purely the electric drive system.
The new models receive an updated version of the lithium-ion battery. The high-voltage unit is located centrally in the car’s underbody. Its cell capacity has increased from 20 to 34 Ah and gross energy capacity rises from 7.1 to 11.6 kWh. The cell configuration allows a 9 kW/12 hp increase in peak output to 105 kW/143 hp.
In the standard driving mode, the new BMW i8 Coupe and new BMW i8 Roadster can be driven exclusively on the electric motor alone from 0 km/h up to a speed of 105 km/h. The combustion engine is only brought into play at higher speeds or when the driver stamps down hard on the accelerator.
The engine is switched off again far more frequently when a measured driving style is maintained. The driver can press the eDrive button allowing the car to travel at up to 120 km/h on electric power alone.
The internal combustion engine has also been optimized for the new BMW i8 Coupe and new BMW i8 Roadster. The three-cylinder motor extracts maximum output of 170 kW/231 hp from its displacement of just 1.5 litres, along with peak torque of 320 Nm (236 lb-ft). It is equipped with a particulate filter to reduce emissions by absorbing the particulate matter contained in the exhaust gases. The system output produced by the electric motor and engine acting in unison is now 275 kW/374 hp.
The new BMW i8 Coupe can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, while the new BMW i8 Roadster does the same in 4.6 seconds. Both models have an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. The electric motor’s power is transmitted to the front wheels and the engine’s drive to the rear wheels, resulting in a hybrid-specific all-wheel-drive system that is controlled by the car’s intelligent energy management.
The proportions, lines and surface design give both the BMW i8 Coupe and BMW i8 Roadster a distinct character. On an individual level, the BMW i8 Coupe stands out as an extremely sporty 2+2 seater, while the BMW i8 Roadster oozes all the freedom of open-top motoring for two. The two models sport “Coupe” or “Roadster” lettering respectively on their C-pillars. The cars are now available with a choice of new exterior paint finishes which include the new E-Copper Metallic and Donington Grey Metallic shades.
The new i8 Roadster takes the BMW i design language into another vehicle concept. Its soft-top roof has a visual lightness to go with its low physical weight. It also serves as a defining element of the silhouette in reinforcing the road-hugging impression made by the car’s low centre of gravity. The body’s dynamic wedge shape can also be best appreciated when viewing the two-seater in profile.
The electrically operated roof of the BMW i8 Roadster when opened, retracts fully into the rear end. It possesses a unique mechanism which allows the soft-top to be folded into a compact package and stowed away in a perpendicular position. By doing so the engineers have been able to create around 100 litres of additional storage space behind the seats.
The all-electric roof can be opened and closed very quietly in just 15 seconds. This process can also be initiated while on the move travelling at up to 50 km/h. When the roof is opened, the rear window raises by around 30 millimetres into a comfort position, where it can serve as a draught-stop.
The BMW i8 Roadster features newly designed frameless gullwing doors made from CFRP with an aluminium outer shell. The windscreen frame is made entirely from CFRP. The side skirts with their extra-large cross-section also are made from CFRP. Additional struts and panels in the front and rear axles also help to maximise the body’s rigidity. The standard 20-inch light-alloy wheels fitted to the i8 Roadster feature a lightweight construction. Each wheel weighs around one kilogram less than the lightest wheels previously offered for the BMW i8.
The new BMW i8 Coupe and new BMW i8 Roadster come with Carpo interior trim as standard. It comprises of full-leather upholstery in Ivory White for the Coupe and Ivory White/Black for the Roadster.
Standard specification also includes features such as a leather sports steering wheel with multifunction buttons and shift paddles, electrically adjustable and heated seats, the multifunctional instrument display, the Driving Assistant including Surround View, the BMW Display Key and the Navigation system Professional. The main menu in the Control Display is now presented in the form of horizontally arranged tiles with a live mode.
The list of optional extras includes Halo interior trim, new Accaro interior trim with an Amido/E-Copper colour scheme. The equipment options available include a model-specific BMW Head-Up Display, the non-dazzling BMW Laserlight with BMW Selective Beam and acoustic pedestrian warning.
ConnectedDrive Services are also included as standard, providing access to functions such as Real Time Traffic Information and On-Street Parking Information, as well as Concierge Services. The BMW Connected personal mobility assistant interfaces the vehicle with the customer’s selected touchpoints, such as a smartphone or smartwatch, via the flexible Open Mobility Cloud platform.
Both the Coupe and Roadster models are supplied with a mode 2 charging cable as standard that enables the high-voltage battery to be recharged from a standard domestic socket in under four-and-a-half hours. Connecting the vehicle to a BMW i Wallbox allows charging to be performed at a rate of up to 3.6 kW and is completed in under three hours. The BMW i Wallbox Connect makes it possible to utilise the globally unique BMW Digital Charging Service.
2018 BMW i8 Coupe and 2018 BMW i8 Roadster Images:
2018 BMW i8 Coupe Specifications:
2018 BMW i8 Roadster Specifications:
To know more do check out the 2018 BMW i8 Coupe and BMW i8 Roadster Press Release:
