BMW i8

The BMW i8 is available in two body styles-coupe and Roadster with prices starting at $318,900 and 348,900 (MRLP) respectively. The high-end luxury hybrid-sports car received an update for the 2018 model year with mechanical and subtle cosmetic tweaks upping the ante further. While the major difference between the coupe version and roadster is the roof, both models share the three-cylinder hybrid powertrain set-up comprising a battery and an electric motor. The roadster, is the new addition to the i8, which was available only in a single coupe version previously. As mentioned earlier, the soft-top roof is the primary distinguishing factor between the two variants, which has a claimed drop-time of 15 seconds. 

Aside from the soft-top, the BMW i8 Roadster gets an exclusive Travel Package which comprises power-operated seats with memory function and a storage compartment behind the seats that provides an additional storage space of 92-litre. It also sports new doors, though the butterfly style has been carried over from the coupe, the framed glass has been replaced by the new carbon-fibre door.  The soft-top in the roadster is operated electrically and it adds additional 60kg to the vehicle’s overall weight. Besides, the electric roof can be operated up to 50 km/h of speed. The insides of the new Roadster share most of the cues with the coupe, save for the all-new seats that are designed to curb the wind buffeting as opposed to its coupe counterpart. Also layered inside is BMW’s iDrive infotainment system with a touchscreen display. The trimmed audio speakers placed behind the headrests set a benchmark not only in the segment, but it is a pioneering technology in the auto industry. Another optional feature that can be availed at no additional cost is the Dry carbon interior trim, an anthracite headliner and blue seatbelts. The nappa leather interior is specific to the coupe, whereas Roadster comes with an optional white-and-black cabin. E-copper or the Dalbergia Brown trim is offered exclusively with the themed interior kits. A large, 10.25-inch screen on the central iDrive gets BMW’s Connected Services, additionally, it gets a Harman-Kardon sourced surround-sound system with 11 speakers as standard. 

With the rear seats gone, the cabin has better functionality in the Roadster, though the new high-sided carbon-fibre passenger cell makes ingress and egress a bit uncomfortable. Talking of the BMW i8 specifications, both coupe and roadster get the 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbo petrol engine tuned to belt out 170kW along with 320 Nm of torque. The e-motor equipped in the front axle sees an increase in the output with a claimed peak power of 105kW against 250 Nm of top torque. The 20Ah battery paired to the electric motor previously has been replaced by the new 34Ah high-voltage lithium-ion battery that ups  BMW i8’s electric-only range from 37 km in the predecessor to 55 km in the coupe version. As for the Roadster, it can offer a claimed electric-only range of 53 km, just 2 km less than the coupe. Transmission set-up used for the electric system ditches the conventional single-speed unit for a two-speed gearbox. For the petrol engine, there is a six-speed auto unit. The 0 to 100 km/h sprint is achieved in just 4.4 seconds by the coupe opposed to the roadster which 0.2 additional seconds to accelerate from rest to 100 km/h.