BMW increases i8 sportscar premium
BY JUSTIN HILLIARD | 19th Jul 2018
BMW Group Australia has confirmed increased pricing for its i8 plug-in hybrid sportscar that enters showrooms this month, with two body styles now available as the new Roadster joins the facelifted Coupe in the range.
Specifically, the four-seat Coupe is $15,600 dearer than its predecessor, at $318,900 before on-road costs, while the two-seat Roadster debuts with a $30,000 premium over its updated sibling.
The Roadster features a power-folding fabric roof that can be stowed in 15 seconds when travelling at speeds up to 50km/h, while its rear window can be independently opened or closed to increase or decrease airflow respectively.
Its standard Travel Package includes power-adjustable seats with additional memory functionality, a storage compartment including a Nappa leather map carrier with an embossed i8 identifier, and a rear storage section with partitions. In total, this bundle provides 92L of cargo capacity.
Puddle lights that project the i8 logo from underneath the Roadster’s side mirrors are also found in the standard Lights Package. Coupe and Roadster badging is located on the respective body style’s B- and C-pillars.
The i8’s bi-colour 20-inch alloy wheels feature a Radial spoke design and are wrapped in 195/50 tyres up front and 215/45 rubber at the rear. Other designs are offered optionally.
Inside, equipment extends to a 10.25-inch iDrive touchscreen infotainment system, voice control, digital radio, USB connectivity and an 11-speaker Harman/Kardon surround-sound system.
LED lighting is used by the adaptive headlights with corner functionality, daytime running lights, tail-lights, footwell, and welcome and reading lights.
Three interior option packages – Carpo, Halo and Accaro – are available, with each featuring different upholstery, trim and colours.
Dry Carbon interior trim, BMW i Blue seatbelts and an Anthracite roof-liner are no-cost options, while E-Copper and Donington Grey are available as metallic paintwork options for the first time.
As previously reported, the i8’s plug-in hybrid powertrain has been upgraded with a more powerful synchronous electric motor that drives the front wheels via a two-speed automatic transmission, with it now producing 105kW, up 9kW, while peak torque remains at 250Nm.
Meanwhile, the 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine motivating the rear wheels continues to develop 170kW at 5800rpm and 320Nm at 3700rpm via a six-speed automatic transmission. As a result, combined outputs are 275kW and 570Nm.
While the 1595kg Roadster can match an M140i hot hatch in the sprint from standstill to 100km/h, at 4.6 seconds, the 1535kg Coupe betters it by 0.2s. Both body styles have their top speed electronically limited to 250km/h.
The i8’s 355-volt lithium-ion battery pack has grown its energy capacity by 4.5kWh, to 11.6kWh, leading to a subsequent 18km increase in driving range on the NEDC cycle, to 55km, in the Coupe. However, real-world usage is about 40km, according to the German car-maker.
Recharging to full via the i8’s Type 2 connector takes less than 4.5 hours using a domestic power socket (10 amps), while buyers can have BMW’s optional i Wallbox Plus (16 amps) installed at their home or office, enabling charging times of less than three hours.
Claimed fuel consumption on the combined cycle test is 2.2 litres per 100 kilometres for the Coupe, while the Roadster is 0.2L/100km thirstier.
According to outgoing BMW Group Australia chief executive officer Marc Werner, the Roadster is a suitable addition to the i8 line-up, helping it to take a significant step forward.
“The BMW i8 hybrid sportscar has justifiably served as a futuristic halo for the BMW brand since its 2014 introduction,” he said.
“With the latest updates, including the debut of the incredible i8 Roadster, BMW i is again trailblazing. With increased power and storage capacity, it’s the best of both worlds.
“The BMW i8 Roadster delivers the open sportscar experience with zero-emission capability, and it looks truly stunning.”
In the lead up to the expanded range’s release, sales of the i8 have taken a hit this year, with just eight examples sold to the end of June – a 38.5 per cent decrease over the 13 deliveries made during the same period in 2017.
As such, the i8 currently places 14th in the $200,000-plus sportscar segment, trailing the Porsche 911 (322 units), entire Ferrari range (121) and Mercedes-AMG GT (113), among others.
2018 BMW i8 pricing*
| Coupe (a) | $318,900 |
| Roadster (a) | $348,900 |
*Excludes on-road costs
