FiestaST
Honorary Master
CarAdvice first look at the i8 Roadster
[video=youtube_share;l3zkwILEITk]https://youtu.be/l3zkwILEITk[/video]
[video=youtube_share;l3zkwILEITk]https://youtu.be/l3zkwILEITk[/video]
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The BMW i8 Thread (Coupe & Roadster)
- Thread starter FiestaST
- Start date
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Refreshed BMW i8 and new i8 Roadster touch down in SA…
The facelifted BMW i8 and the new i8 Roadster plug-in hybrid sportscars have officially touched down in South Africa, with pricing starting at a little under R2,1-million.
The refreshed i8 coupé kicks off at R2 095 200, while the new i8 Roadster starts at R2 329 300. Interesting options include “Laserlight” headlamps (R65 500), black-and-blue brake callipers (R5 900), Apple CarPlay preparation (R4 300) and a variety of 20-inch alloy wheel designs (from R21 800 to R26 200).
In November 2017, BMW whipped the covers off its i8 Roadster (which we’ve since driven in Spain), revealing the topless newcomer alongside an updated version of the coupé.
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 furthermore 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/refreshed-bmw-i8-and-new-i8-roadster-touch-down-in-sa/
The facelifted BMW i8 and the new i8 Roadster plug-in hybrid sportscars have officially touched down in South Africa, with pricing starting at a little under R2,1-million.
The refreshed i8 coupé kicks off at R2 095 200, while the new i8 Roadster starts at R2 329 300. Interesting options include “Laserlight” headlamps (R65 500), black-and-blue brake callipers (R5 900), Apple CarPlay preparation (R4 300) and a variety of 20-inch alloy wheel designs (from R21 800 to R26 200).
In November 2017, BMW whipped the covers off its i8 Roadster (which we’ve since driven in Spain), revealing the topless newcomer alongside an updated version of the coupé.
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 furthermore 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/refreshed-bmw-i8-and-new-i8-roadster-touch-down-in-sa/
FiestaST
Honorary Master
I drive the brand new i8 Roadster...in the rain! - Ernest's Page
[video=youtube;C35yMAhhd0k]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C35yMAhhd0k[/video]
[video=youtube;C35yMAhhd0k]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C35yMAhhd0k[/video]
FiestaST
Honorary Master
BMW i8 coupe 2018 UK review
Should I buy one?
The i8 as tantalising as it was when it first came on sale. It’s got the looks, the pace, the long-legged touring ability and the green credentials to make it a truly special thing in the automotive world.
At £112,730, it is expensive, and if you fork out that money expecting a sharp and massively agile sports car, chances are you’ll be a touch disappointed. Buy it as a show-stopping, head-turning piece of proof that an eco-friendly car can be desirable, fast and ultimately fun, though, and you won’t go far wrong.
BMW i8 Coupé specification
Where Hampshire, UK Price £112,730 On sale now Engine 3-cyl, 1499cc, turbocharged, petrol with electric motor Power 369bhp (combined) Torque 236lb ft Gearbox 6-spd auto for petrol engine, 2-spd auto for electric motor Kerb weight 1535kg Top speed 155mph 0-62mph 4.4sec Fuel economy 149.8mpg CO2 42g/km Rivals Porsche 911, Jaguar F-Type
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/i8/first-drives/bmw-i8-coupe-2018-uk-review
Should I buy one?
The i8 as tantalising as it was when it first came on sale. It’s got the looks, the pace, the long-legged touring ability and the green credentials to make it a truly special thing in the automotive world.
At £112,730, it is expensive, and if you fork out that money expecting a sharp and massively agile sports car, chances are you’ll be a touch disappointed. Buy it as a show-stopping, head-turning piece of proof that an eco-friendly car can be desirable, fast and ultimately fun, though, and you won’t go far wrong.
BMW i8 Coupé specification
Where Hampshire, UK Price £112,730 On sale now Engine 3-cyl, 1499cc, turbocharged, petrol with electric motor Power 369bhp (combined) Torque 236lb ft Gearbox 6-spd auto for petrol engine, 2-spd auto for electric motor Kerb weight 1535kg Top speed 155mph 0-62mph 4.4sec Fuel economy 149.8mpg CO2 42g/km Rivals Porsche 911, Jaguar F-Type
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/i8/first-drives/bmw-i8-coupe-2018-uk-review
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Ignition GT review
[video=youtube_share;ej_NcDDGprA]https://youtu.be/ej_NcDDGprA[/video]
[video=youtube_share;ej_NcDDGprA]https://youtu.be/ej_NcDDGprA[/video]
FiestaST
Honorary Master
BMW i8 Roadster 2018 review
Should I buy one?
The Roadster isn’t so much an out-and-out sports car, but more of a fast, dashingly styled grand tourer. A Porsche 911 will handle corners and engage you on a twisty section of road in a way the i8 just can’t, but at the same time the Porsche can’t propel itself on electricity alone for 33 miles or turn heads quite in the same way the i8 Roadster can.
Then again, the Porsche doesn’t cost £124,735; even a Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet would leave you with a good £15,000 to splash on options before you came close to matching the i8 Roadster’s asking price.
The 911 won’t be affected by severe depreciation, either. After 36,000 miles and three years of ownership, the i8 Roadster is expected to retain just 39% of its value, while the Porsche is forecast to hold 54%.
So, to buy an i8 Roadster, you’re going to have to have a strong desire to buy into its USP of being the only hybrid sports convertible on the market. You’re also going to have to buy into its striking image - not that that’s at all hard to do - and accept that while it’s certainly an enjoyable thing to drive, it’s far from thrilling.
BMW i8 Roadster specification
Where Spain Price £124,735 On sale now Engine 1499cc, 3-cyl, turbocharged, petrol, plus electric motor Power 369bhp (combined) Torque 236lb ft at 3700rpm (petrol engine) and 184lb ft (electric motor) Gearbox 6-spd auto for petrol engine, 2-spd auto for electric motor Kerb weight 1595kg Top speed 155mph 0-62mph 4.6sec Fuel economy 141mpg CO2 46g/km Rivals Porsche 911, Jaguar F-Type
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-revie...rives/bmw-i8-roadster-2018-first-drive-review
Should I buy one?
The Roadster isn’t so much an out-and-out sports car, but more of a fast, dashingly styled grand tourer. A Porsche 911 will handle corners and engage you on a twisty section of road in a way the i8 just can’t, but at the same time the Porsche can’t propel itself on electricity alone for 33 miles or turn heads quite in the same way the i8 Roadster can.
Then again, the Porsche doesn’t cost £124,735; even a Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet would leave you with a good £15,000 to splash on options before you came close to matching the i8 Roadster’s asking price.
The 911 won’t be affected by severe depreciation, either. After 36,000 miles and three years of ownership, the i8 Roadster is expected to retain just 39% of its value, while the Porsche is forecast to hold 54%.
So, to buy an i8 Roadster, you’re going to have to have a strong desire to buy into its USP of being the only hybrid sports convertible on the market. You’re also going to have to buy into its striking image - not that that’s at all hard to do - and accept that while it’s certainly an enjoyable thing to drive, it’s far from thrilling.
BMW i8 Roadster specification
Where Spain Price £124,735 On sale now Engine 1499cc, 3-cyl, turbocharged, petrol, plus electric motor Power 369bhp (combined) Torque 236lb ft at 3700rpm (petrol engine) and 184lb ft (electric motor) Gearbox 6-spd auto for petrol engine, 2-spd auto for electric motor Kerb weight 1595kg Top speed 155mph 0-62mph 4.6sec Fuel economy 141mpg CO2 46g/km Rivals Porsche 911, Jaguar F-Type
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-revie...rives/bmw-i8-roadster-2018-first-drive-review
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Carfection review of the i8 Roadster
[video=youtube_share;ZyX-TauDCo0]https://youtu.be/ZyX-TauDCo0[/video]
[video=youtube_share;ZyX-TauDCo0]https://youtu.be/ZyX-TauDCo0[/video]
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Tested: BMW's i8 Roadster is a fine nod to the future
At 1595kg, BMW’s new i8 Roadster is hardly a lightweight in the realm of sports cars. But, take a look under its hot body and you will see that it is packed with more technology than NASA fitted to its shuttles.
Batteries, electric motors (for the wheels and the roof), and a petrol-turbo engine; lined in sumptuous leather and brimming with connectivity technologies. At 1595kg then, it is remarkably lightweight for what it is.
You can feel this lightness in the car from pull-away. It almost has a sensation that it is gliding along the tarmac, suspended by a beam of energy.
I always liked the idea of the i8. A petrol, turbocharged engine behind the driver, electric motor up front, a proper automatic gearbox for shifting cogs and, in the case of the Roadster, the ability to stow the roof away.
It is a wonderful recipe for cars of the future and BMW has done a great job of making the i8 Roadster drive and feel like a ‘normal’ car in many ways.
Leaving the office for the first time during my test cycle, I left the car in eDrive mode, merging with slow-moving traffic on Pixley Seme street in Johannesburg’s CBD. Because of the i8, traffic slowed further, and pedestrians cheered. Camera phones were whipped out; people were scurrying to catch a glimpse of the silent, insect-like car weaving its way through town.
It is a looker for sure, and wherever I took the car during its test period, it attracted more stares than any other car I have tested in the past 10 years (Merc SLS included).
To create the Roadster, BMW cut a section of the roof and 3D-printed the folding mechanism to enable it to be as compact and lightweight as possible. The result is an awesome 911/MX-5 RF targa-style folding roof that folds quickly behind driver and passenger.
Unfortunately, you lose the 2+2 seating setup of the i8 coupé in the soft-top version, which is only a two-person car.
The roof folds away quickly at the touch of a button, and there is no faffing about with hinges or clips near the windscreen. You also get a cool, vertical rear glass screen that can be rolled up or down.
The cabin of the test car was outfitted in leather and soft-touch material, with additional carbon fibre elements thrown into the mix. BMW calls the colour of the leather e-Copper, the same with the paint, which looks really cool at sunset or sunrise. It is a mission to keep clean though, especially the piano-black bits and pieces.
Back to the first drive home, I kept the car in eDrive mode to see how it would perform on the M1 north toward Pretoria. Traffic was slow moving at first, so the car comfortably merged and kept pace with traffic. Then, I saw an opportunity to accelerate a bit, sticking the gear lever left into Sport mode and firing up the 1.5-litre Mini-derived three-cylinder engine. For a moment, a tingle overwhelmed me as I heard the diminutive motor spring into life.
‘It’s a V8 for sure’, I thought. But, no. It is a well-tuned engine note combined with a throaty exhaust and induction sound that gives this sensation that you are pushing on in a car with a much larger engine. However, you don’t need a larger engine really, as the electric-hybrid drive system in the i8 Roadster is superb.
As in the coupé, the 1.5-litre petrol engine drives the rear wheels and the electric motor powers the front wheels. Updated lithium-ion batteries and a new electric motor bring more power to the table, with the total system output swelling from 266kW to 275kW.
It’ll do 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds and is electronically limited to a top speed of 250km/h.
Now, 275kW might not sound like a lot of power, but the torque delivery in the car thanks to the electric technology makes it gallop faster than a Mustang GT. I know this because I had to make a quick trip to Time Square in Menlyn. On the way there, traffic sucked. I stuck the car in Comfort mode and enjoyed the thumping audio system.
On the way back, I encountered Mr Mustang. We didn’t get up to crazy speeds or antics (public road and traffic), but we did try a few roll-ons and between 60km/h and 120km/h the ‘5.0’ was left for dead each time. The i8’s instantaneous shunt thanks to the torque provided by the electric motor gives it an urgency that even the Mustang can’t match for pace. It is probably a different story at the coast, but up in Gauteng I can definitely see the merits of an electrified drivetrain.
On the subject of the drivetrain, BMW claim 2.1l/100km when it comes to unleaded fuel consumption. This is thanks to the electric motor’s ability to carry the i8 Roadster up to speeds of 120km/h in eDrive mode and the battery pack’s ability to hold enough charge to drive at least 50km on electricity alone.
In the real world, though, I kept switching between eDrive and Sport modes, which meant average fuel consumption hovering in the region of 8.5l/100km for the week.
I also made good use of the charger provided in the boot, siphoning energy from my in-laws’ house and Time Square. I did not get a chance to plug the car into one of the BMW quick-charging stations in Melrose Arch.
VERDICT
As a new-generation sports car, the BMW i8 Roadster is certainly fascinating. It’s entertaining to drive, its carbon tub and aluminium chassis resonates with noise, and its engine rumbles the body in a sports car kind of way.
But, switch it to electric mode and you can creep up and down the streets like you were in a golf cart.
It is a highly-persuasive car in that after driving it, it leaves a lasting impression of solidity and technological advancement. It is a nod to the future that shows us that despite the fact that petrol engines are becoming smaller and smaller, electrification of cars is actually a good thing. Prices start at a shade over R2.3 million for the i8 Roadster, and that includes BMW’s five-year/100 000km Motorplan.
https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/road...roadster-is-a-fine-nod-to-the-future-16756428
At 1595kg, BMW’s new i8 Roadster is hardly a lightweight in the realm of sports cars. But, take a look under its hot body and you will see that it is packed with more technology than NASA fitted to its shuttles.
Batteries, electric motors (for the wheels and the roof), and a petrol-turbo engine; lined in sumptuous leather and brimming with connectivity technologies. At 1595kg then, it is remarkably lightweight for what it is.
You can feel this lightness in the car from pull-away. It almost has a sensation that it is gliding along the tarmac, suspended by a beam of energy.
I always liked the idea of the i8. A petrol, turbocharged engine behind the driver, electric motor up front, a proper automatic gearbox for shifting cogs and, in the case of the Roadster, the ability to stow the roof away.
It is a wonderful recipe for cars of the future and BMW has done a great job of making the i8 Roadster drive and feel like a ‘normal’ car in many ways.
Leaving the office for the first time during my test cycle, I left the car in eDrive mode, merging with slow-moving traffic on Pixley Seme street in Johannesburg’s CBD. Because of the i8, traffic slowed further, and pedestrians cheered. Camera phones were whipped out; people were scurrying to catch a glimpse of the silent, insect-like car weaving its way through town.
It is a looker for sure, and wherever I took the car during its test period, it attracted more stares than any other car I have tested in the past 10 years (Merc SLS included).
To create the Roadster, BMW cut a section of the roof and 3D-printed the folding mechanism to enable it to be as compact and lightweight as possible. The result is an awesome 911/MX-5 RF targa-style folding roof that folds quickly behind driver and passenger.
Unfortunately, you lose the 2+2 seating setup of the i8 coupé in the soft-top version, which is only a two-person car.
The roof folds away quickly at the touch of a button, and there is no faffing about with hinges or clips near the windscreen. You also get a cool, vertical rear glass screen that can be rolled up or down.
The cabin of the test car was outfitted in leather and soft-touch material, with additional carbon fibre elements thrown into the mix. BMW calls the colour of the leather e-Copper, the same with the paint, which looks really cool at sunset or sunrise. It is a mission to keep clean though, especially the piano-black bits and pieces.
Back to the first drive home, I kept the car in eDrive mode to see how it would perform on the M1 north toward Pretoria. Traffic was slow moving at first, so the car comfortably merged and kept pace with traffic. Then, I saw an opportunity to accelerate a bit, sticking the gear lever left into Sport mode and firing up the 1.5-litre Mini-derived three-cylinder engine. For a moment, a tingle overwhelmed me as I heard the diminutive motor spring into life.
‘It’s a V8 for sure’, I thought. But, no. It is a well-tuned engine note combined with a throaty exhaust and induction sound that gives this sensation that you are pushing on in a car with a much larger engine. However, you don’t need a larger engine really, as the electric-hybrid drive system in the i8 Roadster is superb.
As in the coupé, the 1.5-litre petrol engine drives the rear wheels and the electric motor powers the front wheels. Updated lithium-ion batteries and a new electric motor bring more power to the table, with the total system output swelling from 266kW to 275kW.
It’ll do 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds and is electronically limited to a top speed of 250km/h.
Now, 275kW might not sound like a lot of power, but the torque delivery in the car thanks to the electric technology makes it gallop faster than a Mustang GT. I know this because I had to make a quick trip to Time Square in Menlyn. On the way there, traffic sucked. I stuck the car in Comfort mode and enjoyed the thumping audio system.
On the way back, I encountered Mr Mustang. We didn’t get up to crazy speeds or antics (public road and traffic), but we did try a few roll-ons and between 60km/h and 120km/h the ‘5.0’ was left for dead each time. The i8’s instantaneous shunt thanks to the torque provided by the electric motor gives it an urgency that even the Mustang can’t match for pace. It is probably a different story at the coast, but up in Gauteng I can definitely see the merits of an electrified drivetrain.
On the subject of the drivetrain, BMW claim 2.1l/100km when it comes to unleaded fuel consumption. This is thanks to the electric motor’s ability to carry the i8 Roadster up to speeds of 120km/h in eDrive mode and the battery pack’s ability to hold enough charge to drive at least 50km on electricity alone.
In the real world, though, I kept switching between eDrive and Sport modes, which meant average fuel consumption hovering in the region of 8.5l/100km for the week.
I also made good use of the charger provided in the boot, siphoning energy from my in-laws’ house and Time Square. I did not get a chance to plug the car into one of the BMW quick-charging stations in Melrose Arch.
VERDICT
As a new-generation sports car, the BMW i8 Roadster is certainly fascinating. It’s entertaining to drive, its carbon tub and aluminium chassis resonates with noise, and its engine rumbles the body in a sports car kind of way.
But, switch it to electric mode and you can creep up and down the streets like you were in a golf cart.
It is a highly-persuasive car in that after driving it, it leaves a lasting impression of solidity and technological advancement. It is a nod to the future that shows us that despite the fact that petrol engines are becoming smaller and smaller, electrification of cars is actually a good thing. Prices start at a shade over R2.3 million for the i8 Roadster, and that includes BMW’s five-year/100 000km Motorplan.
https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/road...roadster-is-a-fine-nod-to-the-future-16756428
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Doug DeMuro review of the i8 Roadster
FiestaST
Honorary Master
5 Things to Know about the i8 Coupe - Jalopnik
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Carbuyer review of the i8 Roadster
FiestaST
Honorary Master
TheStraightPipes review of the 2019 BMW i8 Roadster
FiestaST
Honorary Master
BMW i8 Roadster 2018 UK review
Should I buy one?
Calling things ahead of their time is quite a lazy thing to do, for we should instead adjust our thinking to try and see a creation as its maker.
That’s relevant to the i8 – you know the future won’t look like this, and this car is instead 2014’s vision of the future rather than the present day’s, with everything that’s happened around electric cars and legislation in the intervening period. To that end, I doubt BMW would replace the i8, when electric cars of all types become the norm rather than a special preview of things to come.
In this era, price and layout wise, the i8 is a sports car alternative to a Porsche 911. As a sports car, it just isn’t as good, as either a coupé or now a roadster. As a technological achievement and statement of intent for the way the industry is heading, the i8 is a modern great, and the roadster version that formula made more desirable with nothing more than the usual compromises such a conversion from a fixed-roof that brings.
Is it particularly engaging? Not really. But then neither is the coupé. Yet the i8 is still beguiling enough to have our blessing, and in its niche class of one, the roadster is the variant to go for. Time and history will be very kind to a car as innovative as this.
BMW i8 Roadster specification
Where Warwickshire, UK Price £124,735 On sale now Engine 1499cc, 3-cyl, turbocharged, petrol, plus electric motor Power 369bhp (combined) Torque 236lb ft at 3700rpm (petrol engine) and 184lb ft (electric motor) Gearbox 6-spd auto for petrol engine, 2-spd auto for electric motor Kerb weight 1595kg Top speed 155mph 0-62mph 4.6sec Fuel economy 141mpg CO2 46g/km Rivals Porsche 911, Jaguar F-Type
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/i8-roadster/first-drives/bmw-i8-roadster-2018-uk-review
Should I buy one?
Calling things ahead of their time is quite a lazy thing to do, for we should instead adjust our thinking to try and see a creation as its maker.
That’s relevant to the i8 – you know the future won’t look like this, and this car is instead 2014’s vision of the future rather than the present day’s, with everything that’s happened around electric cars and legislation in the intervening period. To that end, I doubt BMW would replace the i8, when electric cars of all types become the norm rather than a special preview of things to come.
In this era, price and layout wise, the i8 is a sports car alternative to a Porsche 911. As a sports car, it just isn’t as good, as either a coupé or now a roadster. As a technological achievement and statement of intent for the way the industry is heading, the i8 is a modern great, and the roadster version that formula made more desirable with nothing more than the usual compromises such a conversion from a fixed-roof that brings.
Is it particularly engaging? Not really. But then neither is the coupé. Yet the i8 is still beguiling enough to have our blessing, and in its niche class of one, the roadster is the variant to go for. Time and history will be very kind to a car as innovative as this.
BMW i8 Roadster specification
Where Warwickshire, UK Price £124,735 On sale now Engine 1499cc, 3-cyl, turbocharged, petrol, plus electric motor Power 369bhp (combined) Torque 236lb ft at 3700rpm (petrol engine) and 184lb ft (electric motor) Gearbox 6-spd auto for petrol engine, 2-spd auto for electric motor Kerb weight 1595kg Top speed 155mph 0-62mph 4.6sec Fuel economy 141mpg CO2 46g/km Rivals Porsche 911, Jaguar F-Type
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/i8-roadster/first-drives/bmw-i8-roadster-2018-uk-review
FiestaST
Honorary Master
BMW plots supercar to take on McLaren
Hybrid-powered super-sports flagship will be based on the i8 but with twice as much power
BMW hybrid supercar render
“If we have these very compact and very powerful electric driving units, if we have a carbonfibre chassis – for example, the i8’s – and if we still have high-performance engines, then, if you do it cleverly, you can combine them into a real performance package.”
He continued: “If you look at the supercars – the McLarens, the Ferraris – beyond 2020, they will be all partially electric. And if you look at power plug-in hybrids we are planning for today, an electric motor in our PHEVs has a little bit more than 99bhp and 184lb ft of torque.”
The model, which could arrive by 2023, would use a hybrid powertrain consisting of a petrol engine and electric motors and a chassis heavily based on the existing lightweight carbonfibre architecture found in the i8. But a much larger combustion engine than the i8’s three-cylinder unit is expected, likely moving up to six cylinders. Power should push 700bhp, nearly double the i8’s 369bhp and exceeding next year’s M8, which is tipped to deliver around 620bhp.
Fröhlich added that BMW’s PHEV e-motors will have more than 197bhp and up to 378lb ft within a few years.
“So if you see this e-motor in a car which can give you in milliseconds the push formerly found in a V8 engine, then you can have a very sporty feel from this power PHEV – and it fits perfectly to the M brand,” he said.
A BMW super-sports car could easily exceed the i8’s £114,000 price and would be likely to target hybrid competitors, including the Honda NSX, and conventionally powered alternatives such as the McLaren 570s at £150,000 and beyond.
Production numbers would be strictly limited to sustain the car’s exclusivity and retain residual values, which are a weak point of the i8.
Future BMWs to ooze flex appeal
BMW’s M brand will go electric in the future, but hybrids will rule the roost, according to product development boss Klaus Fröhlich.
“M will also be electric in the future, but we will work very heavily on partial electrification on M cars. This is because they do not only need acceleration on the straight. They have to drive around corners and race tracks, so weight is an issue and electric vehicles still have a weight penalty for range,” he said.
Each of BMW’s two platforms are able to accommodate combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and electric powertrains, which means that every BMW from 2021 has the capability to be electric.
Fröhlich said: “The M cars are derived from that architecture, the electric i cars will be derived from that architecture and I think flexibility to react to different demands all over the world is key.
“For example, we can’t afford to have a 7 Series on an electric platform and a conventional platform, so the 7 Series for China will be a lot of EVs and, in America, perhaps we will have power PHEVs or perhaps there will be M Performance derivatives.”
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/bmw-plots-supercar-take-mclaren
Hybrid-powered super-sports flagship will be based on the i8 but with twice as much power
BMW hybrid supercar render
“If we have these very compact and very powerful electric driving units, if we have a carbonfibre chassis – for example, the i8’s – and if we still have high-performance engines, then, if you do it cleverly, you can combine them into a real performance package.”
He continued: “If you look at the supercars – the McLarens, the Ferraris – beyond 2020, they will be all partially electric. And if you look at power plug-in hybrids we are planning for today, an electric motor in our PHEVs has a little bit more than 99bhp and 184lb ft of torque.”
The model, which could arrive by 2023, would use a hybrid powertrain consisting of a petrol engine and electric motors and a chassis heavily based on the existing lightweight carbonfibre architecture found in the i8. But a much larger combustion engine than the i8’s three-cylinder unit is expected, likely moving up to six cylinders. Power should push 700bhp, nearly double the i8’s 369bhp and exceeding next year’s M8, which is tipped to deliver around 620bhp.
Fröhlich added that BMW’s PHEV e-motors will have more than 197bhp and up to 378lb ft within a few years.
“So if you see this e-motor in a car which can give you in milliseconds the push formerly found in a V8 engine, then you can have a very sporty feel from this power PHEV – and it fits perfectly to the M brand,” he said.
A BMW super-sports car could easily exceed the i8’s £114,000 price and would be likely to target hybrid competitors, including the Honda NSX, and conventionally powered alternatives such as the McLaren 570s at £150,000 and beyond.
Production numbers would be strictly limited to sustain the car’s exclusivity and retain residual values, which are a weak point of the i8.
Future BMWs to ooze flex appeal
BMW’s M brand will go electric in the future, but hybrids will rule the roost, according to product development boss Klaus Fröhlich.
“M will also be electric in the future, but we will work very heavily on partial electrification on M cars. This is because they do not only need acceleration on the straight. They have to drive around corners and race tracks, so weight is an issue and electric vehicles still have a weight penalty for range,” he said.
Each of BMW’s two platforms are able to accommodate combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and electric powertrains, which means that every BMW from 2021 has the capability to be electric.
Fröhlich said: “The M cars are derived from that architecture, the electric i cars will be derived from that architecture and I think flexibility to react to different demands all over the world is key.
“For example, we can’t afford to have a 7 Series on an electric platform and a conventional platform, so the 7 Series for China will be a lot of EVs and, in America, perhaps we will have power PHEVs or perhaps there will be M Performance derivatives.”
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/bmw-plots-supercar-take-mclaren
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EVE.RYN BMW I8 Roadster “Army Edition” Is A Serious Head Turner
The BMW i8 has been subject to its fair share of tuning projects but this i8s Roadster “E.N.ARMY EDITION” from EVE.RYN might be the maddest of the lot.
Most of the modifications are not what you call subtle or even beautiful but there is no denying it will be an absolute head turner.
The army-themed car has four colours that fight for your attention. Light green is used for most of the bodywork, with a darker shade meant to draw your attention to the fender flares. Other body components are fabricated from carbon, while the 3-piece copper wheels add a bit of supercar flair.
https://www.zero2turbo.com/2019/04/...er-army-edition-is-a-serious-head-turner.html
The BMW i8 has been subject to its fair share of tuning projects but this i8s Roadster “E.N.ARMY EDITION” from EVE.RYN might be the maddest of the lot.
Most of the modifications are not what you call subtle or even beautiful but there is no denying it will be an absolute head turner.
The army-themed car has four colours that fight for your attention. Light green is used for most of the bodywork, with a darker shade meant to draw your attention to the fender flares. Other body components are fabricated from carbon, while the 3-piece copper wheels add a bit of supercar flair.
https://www.zero2turbo.com/2019/04/...er-army-edition-is-a-serious-head-turner.html
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Next i8 will be just as radical, BMW exec promises
The BMW i8 hybrid sports car caused a stir with its outlandish styling when it was first revealed back in 2013 but if you were expecting a mild evolution for the second generation (as is the norm in the auto industry) think again.
A BMW executive has promised that the next-generation i8 will be just as radical (for its time) as the original was.
Little else is known about the i8’s follow up or when it will see light of day, but word on the street is that it should appear sometime in the early 2020s.
https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/indu...be-just-as-radical-bmw-exec-promises-22778140
The BMW i8 hybrid sports car caused a stir with its outlandish styling when it was first revealed back in 2013 but if you were expecting a mild evolution for the second generation (as is the norm in the auto industry) think again.
A BMW executive has promised that the next-generation i8 will be just as radical (for its time) as the original was.
Little else is known about the i8’s follow up or when it will see light of day, but word on the street is that it should appear sometime in the early 2020s.
https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/indu...be-just-as-radical-bmw-exec-promises-22778140
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BMW I8 Roadster LimeLight Edition Shows Highlighter Spec
BMW Italia has partnered up with Alcantara S.p.A to bring you the in your face BMW i8 Roadster LimeLight Edition.
Sadly it is a one-off model and it was built to show off not only it’s bright colour but also the stunning custom interior.
The seats, dashboard, door panels and steering wheel are all upholstered in black Alcantara and combined with accents in the glowing exterior colour.
www.zero2turbo.com
BMW Italia has partnered up with Alcantara S.p.A to bring you the in your face BMW i8 Roadster LimeLight Edition.
Sadly it is a one-off model and it was built to show off not only it’s bright colour but also the stunning custom interior.
The seats, dashboard, door panels and steering wheel are all upholstered in black Alcantara and combined with accents in the glowing exterior colour.
BMW i8 Roadster LimeLight Edition Shows Highlighter Spec
Of course, the BMW i8 Roadster LimeLight Edition comes with a carbon fibre trim as well, paired with blue ambient lighting and i8 LimeLight Edition inscriptions.
www.zero2turbo.com