BMW Australia have released local pricing and specifications for the new i8 hybrid sports car, a model fresh from its mid-cycle update that will be available in Australian showrooms starting this month and available in both Coupe and Roadster forms.
There’s now a premium added to the hard top, rising by nearly $16,000 from its previous list price $303,000 to $318,900. Meanwhile, the newer Roadster, with its folding metal roof and open air appeal, is priced at $348,900.
While those who can afford the i8 probably won’t be feeling the pinch of such an increase, it does mean that the sporty hybrid can no longer claim to undercut some of the more traditional supercars as the new pricing brings it more into direct contention with the Porsche 911, Mercedes-AMG GT, and Audi R8 V10 - all of which are quicker and more powerful in raw numbers.
The big story here is the local debut of the i8 Roadster which, as you might expect, can be accurately described as the Coupe’s roof-optional twin, which is essentially the only meaningful difference the $30,000 price premium delivers. That said, it does impact the driving experience quite a bit, and positively so.
The roof mechanism is power operated and can be raised or lowered in 15 seconds when stationary or, impressively, at speeds of up to 50km/h. Cabin airflow can be further independently augmented by toggling the rear window as well.
Each i8 Roadster comes standard with what BMW calls the Travel Package, wherein they’ve packaged equipment more suited to the comfort-oriented touring this specific variant is a better match to. This includes power-adjustable seats with additional memory functions and a partitioned rear storage which increases overall cargo capacity by a very useful 92-litres.
The new i8 can be most easily identified by their new dual-tone 20-inch alloy wheels featuring a radial spoke design. The front tyres are 195/50 sections up front but are rears are wider and lower profiled at 215/45.
Inside, the i8 is just as futuristic as when it make its initial debut, though now its fancier flourishes seem a little more commonplace as other automakers have added a dash of ultramodern into their own cars. Still, fit and finish are still impeccable no matter which of the three interior theme packages are chosen - Carpo, Halo, or Accaro - which alter the shades and finishes on the trim and upholstery.
All the requisite technology features are accounted for as well, including a 10.25-inch touchscreen with the latest iDrive software, voice and gesture control as per the latest fad, and an 11-speaker Harman/Kardon stereo.
The i8 list of upgrades also include its hybrid powertrain, which has been improved in both its combustion and electric aspects. The mid-mounted 1.5-litre B38 turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol generates 170kW and 320Nm all own, driving the rear wheels via a 6-speed automatic.
Its front wheels, meanwhile are driven by synchronous electric motor and two-speed transmission, made more powerful by 9kW to produce 105kW and 250Nm. Overall, the i8’s total system output now stands at 275kW and 570Nm. Remarkably, its much larger 11.6kWh battery doesn’t add too much weight to car’s carbon-intensive body, tipping the scales at 1,595kg and enabling a 4.4 second sprint to 100km/h.
Once the charge has been spent, the i8 can still use regenerative braking to recoup some of that lost energy back into the batteries. On the flip side, once fully charged, it can provide the i8 with 55km of pure electric range. Using a domestic socket, though, the car would need roughly 4.5 hours to charge up fully while 80 percent can be achieved in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
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