When it comes to automobiles that emphasize razor sharp handling and stylish sporting appearance over practical concerns such as energy efficiency, few model types have surpassed the two-seat, open-air roadster. Taking this into consideration, it speaks volumes about the changing times in which we live that the venerable high-performance car manufacturer BMW is releasing its first-ever electric powered roadster.
Building upon its long tradition of classic roadster production, BMW has positioned its new i8 Roadster to ride “the electric wave of the future.” This revolutionary plug-in hybrid promises to sacrifice nothing in terms of power or agility, delivering just about everything that the serious sports car enthusiast could desire.
The i8 Roadster is more than just a standard i8 with its roof cut off. The i8 Roadster takes BMW’s standard plug-in electric system and revs it up with a higher capacity battery and a more muscular hybrid powertrain. With a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine that produces 231 horsepower and an electric motor that adds an additional 143 horsepower, the car can rocket from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 4.4 seconds.
And the BMW i8 Roadster looks as great as it drives. From its signature scissor doors to its distinctive rear air ducts to its incredibly sleek streamflow design, this car is poised to transport you into the next century. Add an exclusive E-Copper Metallic paint job, 20-inch light alloy Bicolor wheels, and natural leather upholstery with your choice of textile accents, and you’ve got an entirely new breed of roadster that is guaranteed to turn heads.