Benoit Jacob was the designer of the BMW i8 in production. 2013 Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez was followed by the 2013 International Motor Show Germany, where the production model was unveiled. The BMW M1 Homage concept car, which itself pays homage to BMW’s last mid-engined sports car in production before the i8, had a significant effect on its design.
Butterfly doors, a head-up display, rearview cameras, and partially fake engine noise were all features of the BMW i8. Customer car series production started in April 2014. The two-speed electric drivetrain was created and manufactured by GKN. As opposed to LED headlights, it was the first production vehicle using laser headlights.
The i8 had a low drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.26 and a vehicle weight of 1,485 kg (3,274 lb) (DIN kerb weight). The top speed of the BMW i8 in all-electric mode was 120 km/h (75 mph). The i8 achieved a midrange acceleration from 50 to 75 mph (80 to 120 km/h) in 2.6 seconds when in Sport mode. 250 km/h was the electronically controlled peak speed (155 mph).
In December 2019, one of the restricted Ultimate Sophisto Edition models, the 20,000th i8, was created. On June 11 of 2020, the final i8 left the factory. 20,465 vehicles were made in total, with 16,581 coupes and 3,884 roadsters.
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Final sales figures for the hybrid coupe and roadster, the BMW i8
Last week saw the unveiling of the final 18 coupe and roadster versions for the BMW i8. As a result, the final production figures are now, pardon the pun, final. The progressive hybrid sportscar has a total of 20,465 units available on the market.
Since the BMW i8 Roadster was released later and at a greater price, it makes sense that the i8 Coupe is the more popular model. Before the production of the BMW Group’s first mass-produced plug-in hybrid came to an end on June 11, 2020, with a Portimao Blue model, 16,581 BMW i8 Coupes were created in Leipzig. 2014’s first week of March saw the launch of the i8 Coupe.
The two-seater BMW i8 Roadster is far more exclusive than the four-seater coupe with its two “emergency seats” in the back, having sold 3,884 units since summer 2018.
The BMW i8 initially had 362 horsepower, but 374 horsepower was added in the summer of 2018. The BMW i8 Roadster has only ever been produced in the more potent variant. The electric motor was “tuned” in order to boost power output. A 40 to 50+ kilometer electric range was available with the BMW i8 facelift.
The final 18 BMW i8 cars were painted with a specific color that was brand-new for the i8. As a result, this assignment presented a lot of difficulties because the paint shop had to be altered to meet these requirements. The cars were essentially hand painted in order to address these problems.
These final 18 vehicles were each developed in close consultation with the persons who would eventually acquire them in order to produce really unique combinations. More information about these vehicles is available here.
Production of the BMW i8 will end in April.
BMW has confirmed that the i8 plug-in hybrid sports vehicle will no longer be produced starting next month, nearly six years after it was first prominently featured in the portfolio of the German automaker.
Following a decision to concentrate technical efforts on building a new line of electric cars, including the iX3 CUV, i4 sedan, and iNext SUV, BMW’s Leipzig plant in Germany will stop producing the Porsche 911 rival in mid-April. Within the next five years, an electric sports car based on the Vision M Next concept from last year is also anticipated.
Since it debuted in 2014 as a coupe, the first model to represent BMW’s I sub-brand has sold more over 20,000 units globally. In 2018, the model received a facelift, and the open-top i8 roadster model was introduced to the roster. Data from Wards Intelligence shows that there were 6,776 delivery in the United States.
The i8 debuted on sale in 2014 as the high-performance flagship of BMW’s then-new I division, positioned in the lineup above the i3 hatchback. It was first unveiled as a diesel-electric plug-in hybrid concept at the 2009 Frankfurt car show.
The i8 has led the way for an expanding lineup of plug-in hybrid BMW models during its six years on the market and also helped pioneer carbon-fiber construction techniques that have since been incorporated into various parts of other, more traditional BMW models, such as the Carbon Core body structure of the most recent 7-Series.
Throughout its entire manufacturing run, the futuristic-looking sports car was only offered with one available powertrain: a front-mounted electric motor coupled to a 1.5L gasoline 3-cylinder engine situated in the middle. Although output was increased from 357 horsepower to 369 hp during the 2018 refresh, performance metrics have essentially remained the same.
BMW has announced that after a limited run of 200 Ultimate Sophisto Edition vehicles, i8 manufacture will terminate. Although BMW acknowledges the 20,000th i8 was created in December as part of the creation of the Ultimate Sophisto Edition, exact production numbers have not been disclosed.
This puts it much ahead of other BMW sports cars in terms of output; the M1, which debuted in 1978, had output of 399 units, and the Z8, which debuted in 2000, had an output cap of 5,000 units.
According to Wards Intelligence data, the i8 sold 555 units nationwide in 2014, 2,265 units in 2015, 1,594 units in 2016, 488 units in 2017, 772 units in 2018, 1,102 units in 2019, and 122 units through the first two months of 2020.
Although they imply it may be reincarnated as an electric competitor to the second-generation Tesla Roadster and a battery-electric successor to the Audi R8, BMW officials have told Wards that a final decision on what direction an i8 replacement could take has not yet been taken.
They also imply that BMW is pursuing a race-to-road strategy for upcoming electrified sports cars in an effort to establish a connection between the manufacturer’s participation in Formula E racing and upcoming i-division road vehicles under construction.
Key Figures
In 2021, BMW sold 18i8.
BMW sold 191i8 in 2020.
With a 90.58% YoY decline, they sold 173 more units in 2020 compared to 2021.
Price ranges for the 2020 BMW i8 range from $147,500 MSRP to $163,300 when fully equipped.
The 1.5-liter I-3 engine that powers the BMW i8 produces 228 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. The BMW i8 has a 6-speed automatic transmission.
the is 3,501 pounds at curb weight. 81.0 cubic feet of interior passenger space.
United States BMW i8 Below are sales statistics broken down by year, quarter, and month. including the most recent BMW i8 sales statistics. Compare the BMW i8 to the competition in the categories of cars, electric vehicles, and premium sport/performance vehicles.
Is the BMW i8 Roadster still produced?
On Thursday, the final i8 to be produced rolled out of the Leipzig BMW facility. Actually, the PHEV’s manufacturing was scheduled to stop in the middle of April. However, because of the factory’s closure due to the coronavirus outbreak, manufacturing was delayed until June.
Since manufacturing on the i8 began six years ago, exactly 20,448 vehicles have been sent from the factory. According to a press release from BMW, the final vehicle was an i8 Roadster in “Portimao Blue” and it was sold to a buyer in Germany.
The i8 was the first plug-in hybrid vehicle in the whole BMW Group when it made its debut in 2014. The hybrid sports car was never successful outside of its specialized market due to its intricate carbon body and six-figure base price. The i8 “embodies the departure into electric mobility like no other car,” according to Hans-Peter Kemser, head of the BMW plant in Leipzig. The model served as the inspiration for the current variety of plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Currently, one shift of production for the Leipzig-based BMW i3 produces 116 units per day. Hans-Peter Kemser, the plant manager, claims that if demand for e-cars in Germany increases, production of the i3 might be expanded to two shifts and thus boosted to 250 units per day.
There won’t be a straight replacement for the i8. In the interim, there have been rumors that the 2019 Vision M Next concept car may be produced in large quantities. The BMW board of directors reportedly decided against the 441 kW sports car, also against the backdrop of the Corona crisis, primarily due to “costs and the volume,” according to media reports. However, the hybrid sports car (this time with a four-cylinder petrol engine instead of the three-cylinder in the i8) did not get beyond the planning stage.
What is the value of a BMW i8 Roadster?
The bad news is that the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for a brand-new i8 Coupe is still $147,500; add $995 for destination, and the price comes to $148,495 overall. i8 Roadster 2020 costs $164,295
The BMW i8 Roadster’s top speed.
The i8 has a top speed of 155 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in under 4.4 seconds (like most BMWs). As a result, its straight-line performance is comparable to that of a genuine BMW M vehicle.
The i8’s engine, which BMW expertly designed, is responsible for the power. Unbelievably, the 1.5-liter, three-cylinder MINI Cooper served as the engine’s source. However, it has been altered to provide more naughtiness, producing 231 horsepower while receiving an additional 143 horsepower from an electric motor. The i8 is by no means slow thanks to the innovative hybrid configuration.
As a result, the i8 not only has a sharp appearance but also has the ability to move quickly when necessary, and since it is a BMW, the driving experience is also rather good.