New BMW i8 Roadster and Coupe here

Pricing and specs have been announced for the new plug-in hybrid BMW i8 Roadster and i8 Coupe arriving in New Zealand showrooms this month.

The Coupe is $286,200 and the Roadster $309,900 – both excluding on-road costs.

The BMW i8 has been the world’s best-selling hybrid sports car since it arrived in 2014.

It’s now available in two body variants and has further developed BMW eDrive technology for increased electric driving range of 53km for the Roadster and 55km for the Coupe.

Features include lightweight design and construction, and the latest BMW ConnectedDrive features for seamless digital integration.

“The all-new BMW i8 Roadster adds another dimension to the experience of open-top motoring”, says BMW Group New Zealand managing director Florian Renndorfer.

The electric roof opens and closes within 16 seconds at speeds of up to 50km/h.

The Roadster’s soft-top is of all-season fabric with a high-level of soundproofing. It

stows perpendicular, taking up very little space. The roof’s three segments fold vertically in a Z-shape, leaving an additional 100 litres of storage space between the roof box and the seats, on top of the 88 litres of cargo space in the rear compartment.

The i8’s combustion engine has been improved. The turbocharged three-cylinder unit featuring direct injection and variable valve timing extracts a maximum output of 170kW from its displacement of just 1.5-litres, plus peak torque of 320Nm.

The system output produced by the electric motor and engine acting in unison has increased to 275kW. The new BMW i8 Coupe accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds, while the new i8 Roadster takes 4.6 seconds. Top speed is limited to 250km/h.

Combined fuel consumption (EU test cycle for plug-in hybrid vehicles) is 1.9 l/100km for the Coupe and 2.1 l/100km for the Roadster – which equates to petrol CO2 emissions of 42 and 46g/km respectively – plus 14.0kWh of electricity for the Coupe and 14.5kWh for the Roadster.

The Roadster has an aluminium outer shell, while new frameless gullwing doors and the windscreen frame are made from CFRP. This ultra-strong high-tech material provides exceptional rigidity, maximising occupant protection even if it rolls, BMW says.

The unladen weight of the i8 Roadster is 1595kg, just 60kg more than the Coupe.

Latest digital services include intelligent route planning, complete with refueling stops, trip status sharing by text message and live link, and seamless transfer of route guidance to a smartphone or smartwatch once the car has been parked.

The BMW Display Key and BMW Connected for smartphones and smartwatches allow the vehicle status to be checked at any time.

Standard specification highlights include 20-inch BMW i light alloy wheels, plug-in hybrid electrified all-wheel drive, Apple CarPlay preparation, carbon fibre interior trim and ceramic surrounds for controls.

A three-year scheduled service plan, five-year warranty, roadside assistance and an eight-year or 100,000km battery warranty are offered.