BMW i8 Roadster lands in Malaysia, anyone got RM1.5 mil to spare?



BMW Malaysia has just unveiled their latest sports car from the iPerformance brand, the BMW i8 Roadster here at the Conference of the Electric Power Supply Industry (CEPSI) 2018. The open top plug-in hybrid (PHEV) joins its facelifted hardtop coupe twin that was launched recently.

If you prefer to have a foldable fabric roof in your i8, you have to be prepared to part with RM1,508,800 (OTR without insurance) or RM100k more than the i8 coupe. Quite a price to pay to have wind in your hair, eh?

Like the facelifted i8 Coupe, the i8 Roadster is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder pushing out 231 hp and 320 Nm of torque to the rear wheels via a six-speed Aisin sourced automatic transmission. The three-cylinder mill is further boosted by an electric motor that delivers 143 hp to the front wheels, giving the i8 Roadster a combined output of 374 hp and all-wheel drive capabilities.

Century sprint is 0.2 seconds slower than the Coupe at 4.6 seconds while top speed is identical at 250 km/h. Pure electric driving range now stands at 53 km at speeds of up to 120 km/h (with MAX eDrive engaged).

The first-ever i8 Roadster wears the same facelifted fascia of the coupe, with LED headlamps, dihedral doors, sleek silhouette and 20-inch alloys. The only difference is the Roadster comes with a fabric roof that opens or closes in 15 seconds at speeds of up to 50 km/h, Roadster model designation on the C-pillars and the exclusive E-Copper paintwork.

Inside you’ll find an Accaro theme with open-pored carbon trim to match the exterior paintwork. Other standard specifications include a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, powered front seats, LCD multifunctional display, 360-degree Surround View, Navigation System Professional as well as a Heads-up Display.

The first-ever BMW i8 Roadster will be available at authorised BMW i dealerships from 19 September 2018 onwards and every purchase of the iPerformance sports car comes with a 5-Years Unlimited Mileage warranty with free scheduled service, 2-Year Tyre Warranty Programme as well as BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline.


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BMW i8 Roadster in Malaysia