After a tantalizing teaser of the new 2018 BMW i8 Roadster was revealed back in July enthusiasts of the German automaker have been waiting for the full reveal and the day has finally arrived. Also revealed is the updated 2018 BMW i8 Coupe.
Both the i8 Roadster and i8 Coupe are based on the LifeDrive vehicle architecture which utilizes an aluminium chassis and carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell.
Both models also employ the improved BMW eDrive technology with the use of a high-voltage lithium-ion battery, expanded 34 Ah cell capacity, expanded energy content to 11.6kWh and a higher peak output electric motor.
In terms of design, the i8 Roadster features a dynamic wedge shape. Its retractable soft-top roof fits neatly into the rear end when not in use and can open and close in 15 seconds operating at speeds up to 50km/h. When lowering the roof the rear window will rise by around 30 millimetres to serve as a draught-stop.
A prominent feature of the new i8 Roadster is the frameless gullwing doors made from CFRP with an aluminium outer shell. CFRP is also used for the windscreen frame and side skirts making the i8 Roadster roughly 60kg lighter than the i8 Coupe.
The i8 Roadster and i8 Coupe can be driven by the electric motor exclusively up to 105km/h with the combustion engine kicking in at higher speeds. With the use of the eDrive button, both models will travel up to 120 km/h on electric power with an increased range to 55 kilometres for the i8 Coupe and a 53-kilometre range for the i8 Roadster.
Optimization of the internal combustion engine allows the 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder unit to output 170kW/320Nm. Altogether the system output is recorded at 275kW of power. This also translates to a sportier soundtrack. In terms of the 0-100km/h dash, the i8 Roadster records a 4.6 second acceleration time whilst the i8 Coupe is slightly quicker needing only 4.4 seconds. Both models are electronically limited to a top speed of 250km/h.
Combined fuel consumption figures which were calculated in the EU test cycle come in at 1.9L/100km for the i8 Coupe and slightly more at 2.1L/100km for the i8 Roadster.
Power is transferred to the front wheels via the electric motor with the engine’s drive to the rear wheels for a hybrid-specific all-wheel-drive system. In hybrid mode, a power boost from the electric motor assists the engine when the driver has a heavy foot. Energy can also be recuperated and feeds into the high-voltage battery on the overrun and under braking. Similarly, the petrol engine can generate additional electricity reserves.
When the navigation system uses the route guidance function the intelligent energy management calculates the data for the whole trip to ensure the electric motor is used as much as possible for maximum efficiency on the journey, particularly using purely electric power for low-speed sections of the route.
Dynamic Damping Control is standard for both the i8 Coupe and i8 Roadster. The i8 Roadster also comes standard with 20-inch light-alloy wheels.
Interior styling features for the i8 Roadster and i8 Coupe include Carpo interior trim with full-leather upholstery in Ivory White for the Coupe and Ivory White/Black for the Roadster, leather sports steering wheel with multifunction button 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.
Optional extras include Halo interior trim or new Accaro trim with Amindo/E-Copper colour scheme, model-specific BMW Head-Up Display, the non-dazzling BMW Laserlight with BMW Selective Beam and acoustic pedestrian warning.
ConnectedDrive Services included as standard provide functions such as Real Time Traffic Information and On-Street Parking Information, as well as Concierge Services. Also, the BMW Connected personal mobility assistant allows the vehicle to link to selected touchpoints such as smartphones and smartwatches via the Open Mobility Cloud platform.
The i8 Roadster and i8 Coupe will be supplied with a mode 2 charging cable as standard. This allows charging to occur in under four and a half hours when plugged into a standard domestic socket, the BMW i Wallbox Connect will complete a full charge in under three hours though.
The BMW i8 Roadster and i8 Coupe will be on sale globally from May 2018, however, an Australian launch date is yet to be confirmed.
More: All News
