Topless i8 is electric dream
JUST how far ahead of its time was the original BMW i8? The answer: very. Introduced four years ago, the German electric supercar wasn’t just a revolution in terms of its futuristic, sci-fi looks but also in terms of technology under the bonnet.
Here was a supercar that not only looked the part but instead of a big six or eight-cylinder engine, boasted a mere 1.5-litre petrol, borrowed from the Mini, allied to an electric motor for battery-powered performance.
There’s still nothing else like it on the road and yet BMW is taking a step further ahead of its rivals with an update to the i8 Coupe and the introduction of this new Roadster. With more power and performance, greater electric-only range and improved average fuel economy and emissions, the i8 is about to get even more desirable.
Aside from the obvious missing roof section, not much has changed from before with this new BMW i8. The roof itself folds into a Z-shape and slots in just behind the front seats, meaning the loss of the coupe’s two smaller back seats but aside from that little else has undergone a facelift.
Not that you’ll hear any complaints from us. The i8’s design still looks as good as ever and there’s no question that it can still turn heads. The hollowed-out section over the rear wing is easily one of our favourite details.
There’s a good argument that what’s under the bonnet is as good as ever and car buyers are much more accepting of electric and battery-powered motoring even if the idea of a plug-in hybrid supercar is still a pretty rare one.
Although things haven’t changed dramatically BMW has made some minor improvements with the 1.5-litre turbo engine combined with a more powerful 105kW electric motor to produce 374bhp. That’s enough to give it a 0-to-60mph time of just 4.6 seconds and a 155mph top speed along with 141.2mpg average fuel economy and 46g/km emissions. It can also run solely in electric mode for up to 34 miles.
More crucial than those figures though is how it drives. This is after all a supercar so a lot is riding on whether it puts a smile on your face, especially after your bank account has been relieved of £124,730.
The slightly eerie feeling of any electric car remains as you initially pull away in total silence but the first time you flex your right foot that surge of immediate electric power is enough to take your breath away. While you can hear