Soft-top BMW i8 Roadster is hardcore
The drop-top version of BMW’s instantly recognisable hybrid sports car is now on sale. heads out to Valencia to see what it’s like.
What is it?
After years of teasers, reveals and promises by BMW, we’re finally behind the wheel of the i8 Roadster. A soft-top version of the iconic hybrid sports car, the Roadster is for drivers who want the wind in their hair when piloting one of the most futuristic-looking vehicles available.
It also has genuinely low running costs and emits next to nothing, but can that help the i8 Roadster to top the bill among performance drop-tops?
Let’s find out.
What’s new?
The biggest change here is, of course, the lack of a roof. BMW has whipped off the i8’s top and, because of its predominantly carbon-fibre underbody, it hasn’t had to laden the car down with additional strengthening.
That means the Roadster’s weight stays down, and, as a result, it’s just 60kg heavier than its hard-top brethren. The roof mechanism itself is clever, too, taking just 15 seconds to raise or lower, at speeds of up to 31mph.
The exterior of the car has also been lightly breathed upon to freshen its looks, though more on that later.
What’s under the bonnet?
The i8 Roadster makes use of exactly the same powertrain as the regular i8, so you’ll find a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine linked to an electric motor. The combustion engine powers the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, while the electric motor powers the front wheels through a two-speed automatic gearbox.
BMW has also increased the car’s battery cell capacity, so while you still get 369bhp and 570Nm of torque, the Roadster can still travel up to 33 miles on electric power alone.
Both units combine to offer the best performance possible, with the electric motor filling in the gaps of the petrol’s power delivery. Thanks to this, 0-60mph takes just 4.4 seconds, and it can reach a top speed of 155mph, too.
What’s it like to drive?
Usually, when converting a regular hardtop into a convertible, you’d expect a significant lack in the way the car drives. Lopping the roof off usually requires additional bracing to stop the car from flexing too much, and this adds weight, therefore blunting the driving performance.
However, the i8 Roadster hasn’t suffered too much with the conversion. Only a negligible amount of weight has been added. This means that it steers just as keenly as the coupe, and manages its weight impressively well through the corners.
Push the i8 Roadster a little harder and it does fall into understeer, the front tyres scrubbing wide with little effort.
We’d also like the brakes to be sharper; currently, they feel underpowered and vague, leaving you guessing as to how much pedal force you need apply at any given moment.
How does it look?
The regular i8 still looks like nothing else on the road, despite having been around for some time now. The Roadster, in our eyes at least, looks even better, particularly in the ‘E-Copper’ colour of our test car.
The bubbles behind driver and passenger have been accentuated, giving it the look of a 1950s racer, while the two-tone alloy wheels fitted stood out, too.
The front of the car has benefited from some additional design touches, too. There are revised air ducts finished in gloss black, while the headlights’ look has been updated, as well. It’s still the i8 motoring fans know and love, just turned up a little bit more.
What’s it like inside?
The i8 Roadster’s interior remains largely unchanged over the coupes, though it does benefit from the addition of a few new colour and material combinations. It’s still a well-made place to be, albeit one that is starting to feel its age a touch now; the screen, though clear, isn’t quite as pin-sharp as rival systems, while the multifunction steering wheel hasn’t got the features you’ll find on other, current BMWs.
The Roadster is, however, practical. Though soft-tops are usually the less-spacious option, this i8 packs more luggage area than its hard-top stablemate. In fact, you’ll find 188 litres of storage space in the Roadster, close to 35 litres more than the Coupe.
What’s the spec like?
You get 20-inch alloy wheels, for instance, and full leather upholstery, too, while a suite of safety-assistance systems, such as forward collision warning, city collision mitigation, and high-beam assistant all help to keep the Roadster as safe as possible.
It can be easy to ramp up the car’s price, however. Apple CarPlay, for instance, is an optional extra, which seems a little mean, given it is standard on the majority of hatchbacks.
Verdict
BMW already claim that the Roadster will outsell the coupe three to one, and we can see that being the case. There’s little reason why you wouldn’t go for the soft top: it’s quick, great to look at, and its roof mechanism is simple and easy to use.
The hybrid powertrain keeps running costs to a minimum, but, still, there’s a whole lot of performance accessible under your right foot.
It’s an impressive car alright, and one you’d likely never tire of driving.
