The new BMW i8 Roadster – car of the day
Please find attached on location photos and footage of the International Media Launch of the new BMW i8 Roadster in Mallorca, Spain.
Since its launch in 2014 the BMW i8 is the world’s highest-selling plug-in hybrid sports car. Since 2013 the BMW i3 and since 2017 the sports version BMW i3s are built in the BMW i production in Leipzig. In total, 130 BMW i models are produced at the plant per day. The market launch of the BMW i8 Coupe and the BMW i8 Roadster starts in May 2018.
The BMW Group Plant Leipzig starts the series production of the BMW i8 Roadster. It is joined by the updated version of the BMW i8 Coupe in the line-up. Both vehicles are flexibly produced per customer demand in BMW Group Plant Leipzig within the same production line. The BMW i8 Roadster oozes all the freedom of open-top motoring for two with an electrically operated soft-top; while the new BMW i8 Coupe stands out as an extremely sporty 2+2 seater. The familiar lightweight design measures used for previous BMW i models have been meticulously adapted to the specific requirements of the i8 Roadster. It comes with newly designed frameless gullwing doors made from CFRP with an aluminium outer shell.
Underpinning this new level of electric driving experience is an updated version of the lithium-ion battery developed for the BMW i8. The high-voltage unit is located centrally in the car’s underbody. Its cell capacity is up from 20 to 34 Ah and gross energy capacity rises from 7.1 to 11.6 kWh (net: 9.4 kWh). The electric range of the new BMW i8 Coupe in the NEDC test cycle has increased to 55 kilometres (34 miles)* and the new BMW i8 Roadster posts a figure of 53 kilometres (33 miles)*.
