They’re finally here: the BMW i8 Roadster and the BMW i8 Coupe, both updated and hitting the market next year. They look pretty much like the current i8, which is to say, stunning. I expected no less.
BMW officially pulled the sheet off the two today at the Los Angeles Auto Show. With an updated battery system, the hybrids now make 374 horsepower, up from the old i8's 357 hp. The range for driving in electric mode has been increased to 33 miles in the Roadster and 34 miles in the Coupe. Pushing the eDrive button enables the car to reach 75 mph in pure electric mode.
Zero to 62 mph for the Roadster happens in a claimed 4.6 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. The Coupe will do zero to 62 in 4.4 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph as well.
The Roadster’s soft-top is all-electric and opens in 15 seconds at a button’s push while traveling up to 31 mph. It’s about 130 pounds heavier than the Coupe.
I might be being shitty, but I’m kind of disappointed that rumors of the updated i8 having 400 hp (if not more) weren’t true. BMW is currently missing a flagship to go up against the Audi R8 and the Mercedes-AMG GT. The i8 could have been it! It totally has the looks to pull that off, too. And as much as 374 horsepower sounds like great fun, it’s not enough to go toe-to-toe with those two.
Ah, well. At least the Roadster is keeping the swoopy doors.