ROADSTER OF THE FUTURE
BMW Group Malaysia, the official distributor of BMW and MINI cars in Malaysia, introduced the BMW i8 Roadster at the Conference of the Electric Power Supply Industry (CEPSI) 2018 recently. It is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with direct injection and Valvetronic variable valve timing that sends its power to the rear wheels through the six-speed Steptronic transmission.
The BMW i8 Roadster also has an electric motor that drives the front wheels with a twospeed automatic gearbox. It generates a maximum output of 231hp and a torque of 320Nm just by running on the combustion engine. The electric motor is able to produce 105kW, with a range of 55km. The combined system delivers 374hp.
The launching ceremony was officiated by Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin.
The E-Mobility partner for CEPSI 2018 claims that the i8 Roadster can complete the century sprint in 4.6 seconds and has a top speed of 250kph. It has a fuel consumption of 2.0 litres per 100km, which equates to 46g/km for the petrol CO2 emission and 14.5 kWh/100km for the electric power consumption.
Without compromising the safety aspects of the i8 Roadster, the two-sitter stands at 1,595kg, mainly contributed by to the use of aluminium materials and carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP).
“Our commitment to drive e-mobility forward is strengthened through our initiatives to drive innovation, local assembly capabilities, awareness on new and clean technology for the automotive industry as well as changing the infrastructure for premium vehicles in the country,” said its managing director and chief executive officer Harald Hoelzl.
He added that BMW Group had already exceeded the target of delivering 140,000 electrified vehicles in this year.
“Year-to-date, BMW Group Malaysia has already successfully delivered more than 5,320 electrified vehicles. The company has delivered over 9,500 BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad vehicles, recording an increase of more than 20 per cent compared to the same period last year.
“Of the total vehicle deliveries, 56 per cent comprised electrified BMW and MINI vehicles, indicating the evolving sentiment among Malaysians for embracing Visionary Mobility in their automotive needs,” said Hoelzl.
The BMW i8 scored its fourth consecutive wins at the International Engine of the Year Award for its welldesigned drivetrain. On top of that, it bagged the if Design Award and the Red Dot Award for the LifeDrive architecture of the BMW i models.
The i8 Roadster is equipped with the scissor doors, 20-inch BMW ilightweight alloy wheels, BMW head-up display, navigation system professional, iDrive operating system comprising both a touch controller and an 8.8-inch freestanding control display screen and BMW connected with remote and smartphone app.
Currently, the i8 Roadster is offered in Exterior E-Copper colour option with Accaro interior design. It carries a price tag of RM1.51 million and is now available at all authorised BMW i-dealerships.
With the Balloon Financing Plan from the company’s Financial Services Malaysia, the BMW i8 Roadster can be owned via a monthly instalment plan that starts from RM17,268.00 (based on estimates of an 80 per cent loan on a five-year tenure).
Every purchase of the new BMW i8 Roadster is covered with the BMW five-year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service programme and BMW two-year/ 24-month Tyre Warranty programme for its run flat tyres, BMW roadside assistance and accident hotline, BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App — BMW White Card and BMW Service Online.