When the BMW i8 Coupé debuted in 2014, it was
like nothing else on the road. The flag bearer for the
Munich manufacturer’s drive to electric propulsion,
the sporting four-seater was a grand tourer with
bold style and a minimal environmental footprint.
Now the line-up is joined by the i8 Roadster, which
retains the Coupé’s dihedral doors and replaces
the rear seats with a quick-folding electric soft-top,
while new battery tech increases the all-electric
range. BMW now has a total of nine electrified
vehicles, with an all-electric Mini waiting in the
wings for 2019. Next up is the BMW iNext,
a concept SUV that points the way to a pure electric
future; by 2025, the company hopes to offer 25
electrified cars, 12 of which will be fully electric.
BMW i8 Roadster, from £124,000, bmw.comBMW i8 Roadster
THE ROADSTER’S UP-AND-OUT
DOORS SPORT FRAMELESS
WINDOWS, WHILE ITS FABRIC
ROOF FOLDS BACK IN
A Z-SHAPE IN 16 SECONDS.
SOME OF THE ROOF
MECHANISM’S ELEMENTS
CAN ONLY BE CREATED USING
3D-PRINTING TECHNOLOGY
Germany