BMW first began taunting us with the stunningly futuristic i8 at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Now that production is slated to begin for the plug-in hybrid i8 sometime next year, they have begun to steer excitement toward a potential roadster version. Glorious.
Will there be a BMW i8 convertible?
This is not the first time the i8 has been caught with its top off, mind you. There was a BMW i8 Spyder concept at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show. Because the chatter and topless version is back, it appears that both the coupe and convertible will be a reality. This is purely speculation, of course, and guesses point to the BMW i8 convertible rolling out a year or two after the coupe. The coupe would serve to test the market conditions before the company would invest in producing the spyder.
The BMW i8 could be a 2014 or 2015 model. By that time a number of alterations could be made to the concept form, which I do not look forward to. The i8 has helped to ignite excitement for hybrids, which is nice, but I would love it if it were a mere gas-guzzler just because of the design. It is truly a slice of automotive eye-candy that nearly anyone would enjoy driving. The i8 is the aggressive member of the brand’s i-line, which some find a touch on the sissy side of automobiles. In the world of exotic sports cars, most are just not ready to embrace the letter ‘i’ unless it is in conjunction to their smart phones or tablets.
It is too premature to take a stab at a possible powertrain for the BMW i8 convertible. It will either pack the same engine as the coupe or something a touch more powerful, if it is not a mere pipe dream. The coupe boasts a 1.5-liter TwinPower turbocharged 3-banger complimented with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack. That amounts to 231 horses escaping the rear wheels with 131 up front.
Pricing for the BMW i8 coupe will be $135,925.
I enjoyed this quick clip from the Smoking Tire. You get a sense of how fast the hybrid is and the commentary is great: “This guy pulled into the wrong parking lot!”
Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals