Australian specifications and pricing have been announced for the 2018 BMW i8 coupe and roadster, the green Bavarian sports car will start in price at a whopping $318,900 plus on-roads.
Other than the futuristic styling, it’s all about the powertrain. The i8 uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder unit to produces 170kW and 320Nm, combined with an updated 105kW/250Nm synchronous electric motor that drives the front axle. In total, the powertrain produces 275kW of power and 570Nm of torque.
BMW has lifted the capacity of the battery by 70 per cent to 11.6kWh, this translates to an increase in all-electric range from 37 to 55 kilometres. In ‘real-world’ driving situations the range is expected to be around 40 kilometres. The i8 can function as an EV at speeds up to 120km/h.
The fuel consumption on the combined cycle is rated at 2.2L/100km for the coupe and 2.4L/100km for the roadster.
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.
To keep the roadster’s weight down, BMW has used the traditional soft top roof, it can be opened and closed in 15 seconds at speeds up to 50km/h.
Exclusive to the roadster is a Travel Package, which adds electric seats with memory and a storage capacity of 92-litres.
Owners now get a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with Navigation system Professional and the latest suite of BMW’s ConnectedDrive Services.
There’s also an 11-speaker harman/kardon sound system, DAB+ digital radio tuner and the BMW display key.
2018 BMW i8 pricing (excludes on-road costs):
BMW i8 coupe - $318,900
BMW i8 Roadster - $348,900
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