BMW has just pulled the wraps off the new i8 Roadster at the 2017 LA Auto Show. Now you can feel the wind in your hair, literally.
The latest addition to the BMW i range comes in the form of a new droptop version of the i8 Coupe. The i8 Roadster now joins the lineup as the only convertible in the entire BMW i range. Under the hood, the mechanical bits remain the same but with some minor tweaks for better performance.
As standard, the i8 Roadster comes with a 1.5L turbocharged three cylinder engine which puts out 231bhp as compared to the older car’s 228bhp; and an electric motor which now churns out 143bhp, up from 131bhp.
The total output for the new car is now 374bhp as compared to the older car’s 359bhp. All of that power is capable of propelling the new i8 Roadster from naught to 100kmph in just 4.4 seconds before achieving its limited top speed of 250kmph.
As for the body of the car, it still retains the same chemistry. A plug-in hybrid engine housed within an aluminium chassis and a carbon fibre monotub. The car’s battery pack has also been upgraded. From the original 20Ah to a larger 34Ah and from 7.1kWh to a new number of 11.6kWh. As for the pure electric drive, the top speed for the full EV mode is now 105kmph as compared to the older 70kmph.
But the party piece of the new i8 Roadster is the new soft top. It means that users can now enjoy their new car with the roof folded down. However, there is a downside to that new soft top, and that results in the loss of the rear seats.
But on the flip side, the kerb weight of the car is also reduced by a small margin of just 60kg. Back to the roof, it can also be raised and lowered in just 15 seconds at speeds of up to 50kmph. The suspension has also been retuned as well for better rigidity.
Source: BMW
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