The BMW i8 Thread (Coupe & Roadster)

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BMW i8 Coupe

The BMW i8 has performed the role of sports car of the future with extraordinary success since the day it was launched. The progressively designed 2+2-seater doubles up as an eye-catching object of desire and a technological pioneer. Indeed, the i8 has been the world's highest-selling hybrid sports car since it first hit the roads in 2014 and has collected an array of awards in recognition of its visionary design and trailblazing vehicle concept. The BMW i8's plug-in hybrid drive system has won the International Engine of the Year Award three years in succession (2015 - 2017) and paved the way for the constantly expanding number of plug-in hybrid models from the BMW and MINI brands. Now the allure of sustainable driving pleasure is poised to enter another new dimension. The new BMW i8 Roadster takes the i8's combination of locally emission-free mobility and high-calibre performance and sprinkles the drop-top driving experience into the mix. The Roadster exudes a whole new sensation of freedom, opening the door to virtually silent motoring with zero CO2 emissions and bringing an extra edge of purity to open-air motoring.

Following the world premiere of the BMW i8 Roadster at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, sales will commence in May 2018. The Roadster will be joined in showrooms by the new version of the BMW i8 Coupe. Both models are based on the LifeDrive vehicle architecture designed for BMW i cars. The aluminium Drive module brings together the powertrain, high-voltage battery, suspension, crash system and structural functions, while the Life module takes the form of a passenger cell hewn from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP).

And so the BMW i8 Roadster also benefits from a low-weight construction, complete with low centre of gravity and even weight distribution. The aerodynamically optimised exterior - with model-specific gullwing doors and a soft-top roof that also displays great visual lightness - is a fine exponent of the signature BMW i design language. The result is a two-seater boasting a distinctive and elegantly stretched silhouette, and delivering an immediate promise of instantaneous power ready to be unleashed.

https://www.netcarshow.com/bmw/2019-i8_coupe/

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BMW i8 Roadster

The BMW i8 Roadster: two-seater with electrically operated soft-top roof and additional on-board stowage space

Passengers inside the new BMW i8 Roadster will look up to find either the open sky or a high-quality, all-season fabric soft-top with additional soundproofing. All-electric operation ensures the roof opens or closes in an almost silent hush, within 15 seconds and while travelling at up to 50 km/h, if required. The broad, wide-opening lid guarantees an emotionally-engaging driving experience shaped in no small part by the sun and on-rushing air.

The BMW i8 Roadster is alone among its rivals in offering owners a fabric soft-top which stows away into a perpendicular position in the rear when opened and therefore takes up very little space. The three segments of the roof fold vertically in a Z. And between the roof box and the seats for the driver and front passenger is around 100 litres of additional storage space. Together with the load area in the rear, which can accommodate 88 litres of cargo, the rear compartment helps to ensure the open-top version of the plug-in hybrid sports car is also as well equipped as possible for everyday use and trips away.

Opening the roof raises the rear window automatically by around 30 millimetres into a comfort position. This allows it to mimic the effect of a conventional draught stop in reducing air turbulence inside the cabin and ensuring those on board can enjoy the pleasure of open-top driving pleasure in comfort. The driver can adjust the height of the rear window at the touch of a button and thus control the impact of the inflowing air as desired.

Intelligent lightweight design and innovative production technology also play a key role in the construction of the soft-top. For example, aluminium elements connecting the roof mechanism with the body of the new BMW i8 Roadster are produced in a new 3D printing process. This manufacturing method for aluminium components breaks new ground in the automotive industry and allows the topologically optimised bracings to be produced in a geometric form, which would not be possible using conventional casting techniques and ensures an optimum balance between component rigidity and weight.

https://www.netcarshow.com/bmw/2019-i8_roadster/

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BMW i8 Roadster unveiled with 369bhp

Facelifted i8 model range gets power hike and minor aesthetic adjustments for 2018

BMW has unveiled the definitive production version of the i8 Roadster at the 2017 Los Angeles motor show. The long-awaited two-seater will go on sale alongside an updated version of the two-plus-two i8 coupé in the UK early next year featuring an updated 369bhp plug-in petrol-electric hybrid driveline.

The arrival of the i8 Roadster comes more than five years after it was originally unveiled as a concept at the 2012 Beijing motor show and two years since a more production-based concept was unveiled at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The lengthy gestation period has led to the first open-top model from BMW’s fledgeling i brand adopt a newly developed roof structure. It automatically stows beneath a panel integrated within the two buttresses behind the cabin at the press of a button.

The roof, which consists of a large fabric panel and integrated header rails, is claimed to open in just 15sec at speeds up to 31mph.

To accommodate the new roof, BMW has modified the windscreen, providing it with a strengthened frame and beefed-up quarter windows. The rear window, which doubles as a wind deflector, is also altered, and can be closed or opened independently of the roof.

Further stylistic changes over the facelifted i8 coupe that are set to go on sale simultaneously with the i8 Roadster in early 2018 are the deletion of the rear side windows. They are replaced by new black panels overlaid with aluminium-look trims etched with the word 'Roadster'.

The liftback tailgate of the i8 coupé also makes way for a lengthy engine cover on the new i8 Roadster.

BMW says the inherent structural integrity of the i8’s carbonfibre-reinforced plastic and aluminium structure has helped to minimise weight gain for the new Roadster, which is claimed to tip the scales just 60kg over the facelifted coupé at 1594kg.

Inside, the two-plus-two configuration of the i8 coupé is eschewed in favour of a two-seat layout for the i8 Roadster, which features a claimed 92-litres of oddment space within three separate cubby holes integrated into the rear bulkhead.

The earlier dashboard design has also been lightly updated for the i8 Roadster and facelifted i8 coupé, with the latest version of BMW’s iDrive system now offering either touch control on a free-standing 8.8-inch monitor or rotary control via a dial on the middle console featuring among other subtle changes.

BMW has also confirmed its new open-top i brand model receives newly designed seats, an optional head-up display unit as well a range of new trim options, including carbonfibre trim elements for the dashboard and ceramic controls within the centre console.

Power for the new i8 Roadster and facelifted i8 coupé comes from a reworked version of the plug-in petrol-electric hybrid driveline used by the existing coupé – the LifeDrive architecture as it is labelled by BMW.

It uses a mid-mounted version of BMW’s turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine packaged behind the cabin in combination with an electric motor mounted within the front axle assembly in a set-up that can conceivably provide either front-wheel drive running on the electric motor or four-wheel drive with the petrol engine and electric motor working together.

The combustion engine continues to develop the same 228bhp and 236lb ft of torque as the existing unit, with drive channelled through a six-speed automatic gearbox to the rear wheels. The electric motor, however, has been upgraded with an additional 12bhp, increasing its power reserves to 141bhp, which is delivered together with the same 184lb ft of torque of today’s i8 coupé via a two-speed gearbox to the front wheels.

Altogether, there is a combined 369bhp and theoretical maximum torque loading of 420lb ft, although the latter is continually regulated dependent on grip and traction levels. Five different driving modes are available: comfort, sport, and eco drive in hybrid mode and comfort and eco drive in electric mode.

BMW claims a 0-62mph time of 4.6sec for the new i8 Roadster, with the revised i8 coupé’s time put at 4.4sec. Both have a limited top speed of 155mph.

Accompanying the changes to the driveline is a revised lithium-ion battery. Its cell capacity has risen from a previous 20Ah to 34Ah, with energy capacity increasing from 7.1kWh to 11.6kWh. BMW claims the new battery provides a range of 33 miles for the i8 Roadster and 34 miles for the facelifted i8 coupé in front-wheel drive electric mode up to a limited speed of 75mph on the European test cycle.

Also new is BMW’s latest 360° electric charging system. In combination with the latest evolution of the German car maker’s i charging station, it provides 7.2kW charging and a claimed 80 per cent state of charge for the i8 Roadster and facelifted i8 Coupe in less than three hours.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-la-motor-show/bmw-i8-roadster-unveiled-369bhp
 
BMW's i8 drops its top, gets more perk

It’s taken a few years, but BMW has finally released a Roadster version of its futuristic i8 sports car and the new body style coincides with a few upgrades to the Coupe, including a more powerful drivetrain.

Thanks to a more powerful electric motor, which is still mated to a 170kW version of BMW’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbopetrol engine, the BMW i8 now boasts a total system output of 275kW, up from 266kW.

That, according to BMW, is enough to get you from zero to 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds in the case of the Roadster, with the Coupe taking 4.4s, and remember that the i8 is a lot lighter than BMW’s regular cars, thanks largely to its carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic passenger cell construction.

The hybrid-specific all-wheel-drive set-up sees the petrol engine driving the rear wheels while the electric motor does its business upfront. Thanks to an improved high-voltage battery the i8 can now cover a claimed 55km on electric power alone, although you’d be lucky to get even close to that in real world driving.

Getting back to the main attraction here, the i8 two-seat Roadster has an electrically-operated targa-style fabric top that can perform the open or close trick in under 16 seconds, at speeds of up to 50km/h.
In a win for lightweight design, the roof’s aluminium connecting elements are produced in a new 3D printing process.

Like the Coupe, the Roadster has gullwing doors, and the pair are available with new exterior paint finishes and 20-inch alloy wheel designs in either two-tone or black.

Both can be ordered with Tera World Copper interior trim, which is new to the i8, and features a cloth and leather upholstery combination in a two-tone (Amido/E-Copper) colour scheme.

The 2018 range also benefits from the latest BMW Connected digital services, including highly personalised in-car displays, smart route planning and seamless information transfer between the navigation system and the owner’s smartphone or watch.

So when can I get one? BMW SA expects the new Coupe and Roadster to reach local shores during the second half of 2018. Just in time for next summer, in other words.

https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/latest-launches/bmws-i8-drops-its-top-gets-more-perk-12198751
 
BMW i8 Roadster Revealed (Alongside Updated Coupé)

BMW has taken the wraps off the new i8 Roadster as well as the updated i8 Coupé at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Both body variants are expected to arrive in South Africa in the second half of 2018.

The plug-in hybrid models feature “further developed” eDrive technology, which the Munich-based brand says has enabled “longer range and more time in pure-electric mode”.

The new BMW i8 Roadster features model-specific body strengthening elements, with the windscreen frame fashioned from carbon-fibre reinforced-plastic. BMW says the soft-top model is “approximately 60 kg” heavier than the coupé. The Roadster benefits from model-specific tuning for the springs, damping and dynamic stability control system.

The automaker says the electric roof is capable of opening in 15 seconds while travelling at up to 50 km/h. The soft-top stows in a perpendicular position, which BMW says creates “around 100 litres of additional storage space behind the seats”.

Interestingly, the cell capacity of the lithium-ion battery used in both models has been increased from 20 to 34 Ah, while gross energy capacity is up from 7,1 to 11,6 kWh. The electric motor’s maximum output, meanwhile, has hiked by nine units to 105 kW (taking peak system output from 266 kW to 275 kW). The 1,5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine has an unchanged output of 170 kW.

Driving with the electric motor alone is possible at up to 105 km/h (this limit was previously 70 km/h), while pressing the eDrive button pushes the pure-electric driving threshold up to 120 km/h.

The i8 Roadster’s electric range is a claimed 53 km and its overall consumption 2,1 L/100 km (while the coupé now comes in at 55 km and 1,9 L/100 km), with BMW saying the soft-top two-seater will sprint from standstill to 100 km/h in 4,6 seconds (two-tenths tardier than the coupé’s unchanged time of 4,4 seconds), before topping out at 250 km/h.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/bmw-i8-roadster-revealed-alongside-updated-coupe/
 
BMW to drop different (hotter!) powertrain into i8?

A report out of the UK suggests a more powerful version of BMW i8 is under consideration.

The head of product management at BMW i has revealed that the Munich-based brand is considering creating a “more powerful version” of the i8, hinting that the plug-in hybrid sportscar could even gain a completely different powertrain.

Speaking to Auto Express, Alexander Kotouc said that there was demand for a high-performance derivative of the i8 (for the record, the standard model completes the obligatory 0-100 km/h dash in a claimed 4,4 seconds).

“I can tell you at this point we are still evaluating it; the i8 is the iconic sports car of the new era.

“Yes, there is customer demand for a more powerful version, but it needs to make sense for our brand,” Kotouc told the British publication.

“You could put a V12 in there and it would be incredibly powerful, but would it still be a BMW i car? We need to find the perfect balance,” he added.

The freshly facelifted i8 coupé – which was revealed alongside the new i8 Roadster – has had its electric motor’s maximum output hiked by nine units to 105 kW (taking peak system output from 266 kW to 275 kW). The 1,5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, meanwhile, has an unchanged output of 170 kW.

Auto Express furthermore reported that Kotouc said either this existing powertrain could have its peak power boosted or the i8 could gain a “completely different engine”.

“There is a customer need and desire to have more power and we will try to fulfil it while also keeping our DNA authentic,” Kotouc said.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/bmw-to-drop-different-hotter-powertrain-into-i8/
 
How much the new BMW i8 Roadster will cost in SA…

We have local pricing for the BMW i8 Roadster and facelifted i8 Coupé...

Back in November 2017, BMW whipped the covers off its new i8 Roadster, revealing the topless newcomer alongside a facelifted version of the coupé. And now, with a local introduction set for the second half of 2018, we can reveal South African pricing for both the i8 Roadster and the updated i8 Coupé.

The open-top version of the Munich-based automaker’s plug-in hybrid sportscar will be priced at R2 309 000, while the refreshed coupé will come in at R2 077 000.

A few jabs at a calculator reveals that the i8 Roadster thus commands a R232 000 premium over its hard-top sibling, which itself has increased in price by R61 700 with this facelift.

The new i8 Roadster features model-specific body strengthening elements, with the windscreen frame fashioned from carbon-fibre reinforced-plastic. BMW says the soft-top model is “approximately 60 kg” heavier than the coupé. The Roadster also benefits from model-specific tuning for the springs, damping and dynamic stability control system.

The automaker says the electric roof is capable of opening in 15 seconds while travelling at up to 50 km/h. The soft-top stows in a perpendicular position, which BMW says creates “around 100 litres of additional storage space behind the seats”.

Interestingly, the cell capacity of the lithium-ion battery used in both models has been increased from 20 to 34 Ah, while gross energy capacity is up from 7,1 to 11,6 kWh. The electric motor’s maximum output, meanwhile, has been hiked by nine units to 105 kW (taking peak system output from 266 kW to 275 kW). The 1,5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine has an unchanged output of 170 kW.

Driving with the electric motor alone is possible at up to 105 km/h (this limit was previously 70 km/h), while prodding the eDrive button pushes the pure-electric driving threshold up to 120 km/h.

The i8 Roadster’s electric range is a claimed 53 km and its overall consumption 2,1 L/100 km (while the coupé now comes in at 55 km and 1,9 L/100 km), with BMW saying the soft-top two-seater will sprint from standstill to 100 km/h in 4,6 seconds (two-tenths tardier than the coupé’s unchanged time of 4,4 seconds), before topping out at 250 km/h.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/how-much-the-new-bmw-i8-roadster-will-cost-in-sa/
 
BMW i8 Roadster 2018 review

Should I buy one?

There’s a multi-faceted appeal to the i8 Roadster that you don’t find in any obvious open-top rival.

You can cover large distances with effortless progress and great fuel economy, switching in and out of eDrive Eco mode into Hybrid Drive Sport as the conditions allow. The driving position is excellent, with fittingly sporting qualities within an interior that is appropriately high on quality.

It may have been a long wait, but the i8 Roadster does not disappoint. The changes BMW has brought to both its powertrain and chassis not only endow the car with sharper performance but also more endearing driving qualities than the earlier coupé.

With the adoption of these changes, the fixed-roof version of the headlining i model also promises to take a step up the sports car pecking order.

BMW i8 Roadster specification

Where Mallorca, Spain Price 124,735; On sale June; Engine 1499cc 3-cyl turbo petrol, 129bhp electric motor; Power 369bhp at 5800rpm; Torque 320lb ft at 3700rpm; Gearbox 6-spd automatic; Kerb weight 1595kg; Top speed 155mph; 0-62mph 4.6sec; Fuel economy 134mpg; CO2 46g/km; Rivals Jaguar F-Type convertible, Honda NSX, Porsche 911 Targa

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/i8-roadster/first-drives/bmw-i8-roadster-2018-review

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DRIVEN: BMW i8 Roadster

If you really want a new car to stand out, make sure to include a pair of butterfly doors. This is exactly what BMW did with the i8 back in 2014 … but the design team didn’t stop there. No, a beautifully crafted body was added to complement those intricate portals, as was a complex plug-in hybrid powertrain comprising a petrol engine, battery pack and electric motor. Now the Munich-based brand has taken the concept a step further by developing an electric soft-top to add to the driving enjoyment: meet the new BMW i8 Roadster.

This, however, was not simply a case of lopping off the roof. No, the conversion was a lot more complex than that, particularly since the entire body is formed from-carbon fibre (which doesn’t make the crash-testing, roll-over testing and wind buffeting challenges usually faced by a soft-top any easier to solve). That said, due to the inherent stiffness of the shell, very little strengthening was required and the final weight gain was kept to a minimal 60 kg. The fabric roof section is split into two and stored vertically behind the seats, reducing the amount of space taken up (the claimed luggage capacity for the i8 Roadster is 88 litres, as opposed to the 154 litres of the coupé).

As with the coupé, a 1,5-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine is mounted at the rear to work with the 96 kW front-mounted electric motor. An additional 11 kW motor is used as a starter motor and to reduce the effects of turbo-lag.

The i8 Roadster’s lithium-ion batteries (along with those of the facelifted coupé) have increased in capacity from 7,1 kWh to 11,6 kWh, while power of the motor is upped by 9 kW to 105 kW (plus 250 N.m of torque). The output of the petrol engine remains at 170 kW. The fuel tank holds just 30 litres, which should give a range of more than 400 km. Sensibly, an optional 42-litre tank can be installed, hiking the theoretical range to 600 km.

The Roadster is nearly as exciting to drive as it looks. You see, although it is styled like a supercar, it is not intended to compete with such machines. Instead, it’s supposed to be an ecologically advanced, efficient car for the future that just happens to have a decent turn of speed. And this is where it shines, because it provides an almost perfect blend of power and frugality. We have tested this ourselves with the coupé, achieving an impressive 5,52 L/100 km on our fuel route (the official manufacturer’s figure is 2,10 L/100 km).

On the road, the topless car is huge fun to drive. Due to the less-than-impressive sound generated by just about all turbocharged petrol engines, BMW has cheated a bit by adding a feel-good growl that reaches your ears via the sound system. Faux or not, it works very well. This, of course, is coupled to a whistling sound from the electrical side of the powertrain (it’s actually more aurally pleasing than you might expect, and could perhaps be compared with the mechanical sounds of some race cars … at least, it seemed that way to my mechanically appreciative mind).

The steering isn’t quite perfect, but comes close thanks to a quick turn-in combined with a sure-footed feel (the i8 Roadster benefits from model-specific tuning for the springs, damping and dynamic stability control system). The car is quite wide, which posed a serious challenge when the sat-nav instructed me to negotiate some ridiculously narrow, car-lined streets in order to avoid a section of road-works.

On the open road, however, acceleration is impressive and flicking through the six-speed automatic gearbox using the paddle shifters is the way to go. The zero to 100 km/h sprint is dispatched in a claimed 4,4 seconds while the top speed is limited to 250 km/h. One surprising displeasure was that the seats, while looking great, caused some discomfort in the legs after a couple of hours of driving.

The roof can be lowered while you’re pottering around in traffic at speeds up to 50 km/h, which would be quite handy if it started to rain or the sunshine was pounding you with too many UV rays. A glass screen at the rear can be adjusted to alter wind flow, but I found no problems with the window up or down. In fact, there was minimal wind buffeting at any speed.

My choice of paintwork for the test drive was the new “E-Copper” metallic hue, with copper and brass being some of my favourites from youth when these metals were used quite extensively for a variety of things. The standard wheel size is 20 inches, and you have a choice of turbine, propeller or rail track designs, all of which sound exotic but are actually quite accurate when you see the shapes.

The i8 Roadster is set to arrive in South Africa in June 2018. Should you be interested? Well, if the i8 coupé tickled your fancy, this new topless version should, too. You see, it offers the same sort of driving experience (and potential frugality) as its hard-top sibling, but with yet more flair and wind-in-your-hair thrills. And, perhaps most importantly, all without any significant compromise over the coupé…

Model:BMW i8 Roadster
Price:R2 329 300
Engine:1,5-litre, 3-cyl turbo petrol plus electric motor
Power:275 kW (total system)
Torque:250 + 320 N.m
0-100 km/h:4,6 seconds
Top Speed:250 km/h
Fuel Consumption:2,0 L/100 km
CO2:46 g/km
Transmission:six-speed automatic
Maintenance Plan:TBA

http://www.carmag.co.za/car-reviews/driving-impressions/driven-bmw-i8-roadster/
 
for the ladies

no self respecting man would drive this :sick::crylaugh:
 
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