In short: BMW i8 Roadster
It is true that its electric range was sufficient for most users, and it is true that in terms of sportiness it offered a lot, but still: there are much cheaper and faster alternatives.
Then there's the i8 Roadster. It was a long wait, but it paid off. The i8 Roadster gives the impression that the i8 should have been roofless from the start. That the i8 Roadster must first be created, and only then the coupe version. Because all the advantages of the i8 appear in the right lighting without a roof over your head, and the wind in your hair also hides the disadvantage.
One of them is that the i8 is not a real athlete. It's running out of power for that and it's underperforming tires. But: with a roadster or convertible, the speed is still lower, the purpose of driving is different, the requirements of the driver are also different. The i8 roadster version is fast enough and sporty enough.
Its exhaust or engine is loud and sporty enough (albeit with an artificial prop), and the fact that it's a three-cylinder (which is familiar with sound, of course) doesn't bother me that much. In fact (other than a few) it doesn't bother me at all. However, when the driver decides to drive only on electricity, the silence of the transmission with the roof down becomes even louder.
The fact that the two rear seats are no longer due to the electric folding roof is irrelevant – because those in the coupe are not even conditionally usable anyway – the i8 has always been a car that was fun for two at the most.
With the help of a turbocharger, the 1,5-liter three-cylinder engine develops up to 231 "horsepower" and 250 Newton meters of torque and, of course, drives the rear wheels, and the front - a 105-kilowatt electric motor (250 Newton meters of torque) . The total output of the BMW i8 system is 362 horsepower, and above all, the sensation is impressive when the boost function is activated in sport driving mode, in which the electric motor keeps the petrol engine running at full power. If you've ever watched footage of World Endurance Championship hybrid race cars, you'll instantly recognize the sound - and the feeling is addictive.
The i8 Roadster runs on electricity at no more than 120 kilometers per hour and up to (less) 30 kilometers, and the battery charges (at a public charging station) in less than three hours, but it also charges quickly when using Sport Mode while otherwise moderate driving). In short, on this side, everything is as you would expect (but you need a more powerful charger for faster charging).
The price of the i8 Roadster starts at 162 thousand - and for this money you can get a lot of cars that are quite powerful and with a folding roof. But the i8 Roadster has enough arguments to present itself as a very compelling choice.
BMW i8 Roadster
Basic data
| Test model cost: | 180.460 € |
|---|---|
| Base model price with discounts: | 162.500 € |
| Test model price discount: | 180.460 € |
| Power: | 275kW (374 KM) |
Cost (up to 100.000 km or five years)
Technical information
| engine: | 3-cylinder - 4-stroke - in-line - turbocharged petrol - displacement 1.499 cm3 - maximum power 170 kW (231 hp) at 5.800 rpm - maximum torque 320 Nm at 3.700 rpm. |
|---|---|
| Battery: | Li-ion, 11,6 kWh |
| Energy transfer: | engines are driven by all four wheels - 6-speed automatic transmission / 2-speed automatic transmission (electric motor) |
| Capacity: | top speed 250 km/h (electric 120 km/h) – acceleration 0-100 km/h 4,6 s – average fuel consumption in combined cycle (ECE) 2,0 l/100 km, CO2 emissions 46 g/km – electric range (ECE) 53 km, battery charging time 2 hours (3,6 kW up to 80%); 3 hours (from 3,6kW to 100%), 4,5 hours (10A household outlet) |
| Mass: | empty vehicle 1.595 kg - permissible total weight 1965 kg |
| External dimensions: | length 4.689 mm - width 1.942 mm - height 1.291 mm - wheelbase 2.800 mm - fuel tank 30 l |
| Box: | 88 |
