BMW Finally Reveals The Hybrid i8 Roadster

BMW's newest hybrid has finally been revealed at the L.A. Auto Show and we're happy to say that it's every bit marvellous as their new i8 Coupe. A top that drops makes all the difference and the right kind of difference for a buyer who likes to preserve nature as much as truly experience it while on the fly. The i8 Roadster is a carbon copy of the i8 Coupe, with a retractible soft top. For those that are not familiar with the i8 Coupe's design language, the machine is very clean cut with exquisite and rather lightweight carbon fibre casing and black accents on the fascia as well as rear. The lack of door handles is a delightful sight, much like the dihedral doors that have been retained by the Roadster. BMW knows how to maintain style with performance and that's why the powertrain of the Roadster remains the same as the i8 Coupe's. Going by the name "eDrive", the Roadster packs a 1.5 litre three cylinder engine and also a front wheel powering electric motor. The two amount to a combined output of 374hp and a top speed of 250kmph. Source: BMW BMW claims that the Coupe and the Roadster can sprint from 0-100kmph in 4.2 seconds, which isn't impressive in a world where a $200,000 all-electric Tesla Roadster is doing it in 1.9 seconds. But then you'd also have to take into consideration, the fact that the Tesla Roadster is a 650hp machine and it does cost $50,000 more than BMW's i8 machines. Source: BMW BMW is obviously aware that in a market that's still thriving on fossil fuel powered engines and just about waking to the charms of an electric vehicle, the i8 is a machine that will ease their existing customers in and also bring in new clientele that wants to taste the best of both worlds. Their i3 vehicles have been popular with the public except for the design-related security issues that led them to recall the cars very recently. Source: BMW While the small i3 cars could result in neck injury for women in car frontal car crashes, they have nailed the powertrain and intend to improve it as they go. It's not very long ago that they announced the production of about 12 "electrified" models by 2020 and the world is eagerly anticipating their electric SUV, Urus. Even Mini, a brand they took over in 2000, has plans of being "electrified" and is expected to hit the markets by 2019. By those standards, the i8 Coupe and Roadster are ideal for BMW's initiation in the hybrid supercar market. Slow and steady, we know BMW will be far ahead of many in the electric race.