BMW began deliveries of the i8 Roadster - the first 18 units with a special surprise for the members of the BMW i8 Club are inscribed with “1 of 18”.
The first 200 units are exclusive First Edition versions that are expected to become collector’s item.
"Special interior options, such as ceramic applications for operating controls, dry-carbon interior trim, Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system and the BMW i8 logo projected in the footwell and when doors are open, are also included in this exclusive edition."
The group of happy and enthusiastic customers drove in convoy to Lake Como in Italy for the Concorso d’Eleganza, where the cars will be displayed on the grounds of the Villa Erba.
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It's an open question as to how well the i8 Roadster will sell, as the i8 found more than 13,000 customers between 2014 through the end of 2017.
All-electric range: up to 33 miles (53 km) up to 120 km/h
Battery capacity: 11.6 kWh
All-electric roof opens and closes very quietly – at the touch of a button – in 15 seconds and while travelling at up to 50 km/h
More about the event:
"The presentation was an occasion not to be missed – because, even for BMW Group employees, the BMW i8 Roadster is a model with especially strong emotional appeal: Christian Ach, head of Sales and Direct Business BMW Germany, Dr. Robert Irlinger, head of the BMW i Product Line, Project Manager Rainer Rump and Robert Forrest, the designer of the BMW i8 Roadster, joined van Binsbergen in welcoming BMW i8 Club members from Germany, Switzerland, Singapore and Belgium who made the trip to Munich specially for the presentation. Club members have been fans since the beginning and did not hesitate for a second when they heard about the new BMW i8 Roadster. In addition to the official handover, the e-mobility enthusiasts also enjoyed a product presentation from Project Manager Rainer Rump and a tour of the “BMW i. Visionary Mobility” temporary exhibition at BMW Museum.
“We have been eagerly awaiting this moment for months – in fact, ever since we saw the first pictures of this gorgeous vehicle. The chance to enjoy the amazing driving experience of the Coupé in a Roadster is a dream come true for all of us,” explained Claus-Dieter Bachmann, president of the BMW i8 Club. “My fellow club members and I have been especially touched by the warm and enthusiastic welcome we have received here at BMW Welt. It has been an emotional moment we will never forget.”
“The BMW i8 Roadster represents many things that are unique about BMW: fascinating design, visionary technology and sustainable mobility, but, particularly, emotion and sheer driving pleasure,” says Peter van Binsbergen. “This sportscar was built for people like the BMW i8 Club members: absolute automobile enthusiasts who love cars and dare to defy conventions and try new things. It therefore gives me great personal pleasure to present the 18 BMW i8 Roadsters to the BMW i8 Club.”
Unlike most automobile clubs, which tend to be formed at the end of a model’s lifecycle, the BMW i8 Club was created at the time the BMW i8 Coupé was released onto the market, back in 2014. This underlines the fascination of this futuristic plug-in hybrid sportscar, which captivates car aficionados with its unique LifeDrive vehicle architecture and aesthetically pleasing BMW i design language. Since its market launch, the BMW i8 has become the world’s top-selling hybrid sportscar and won countless awards for its visionary design and ground-breaking vehicle concept. The new BMW i8 Roadster adds the experience of open-top driving to the combination of locally emission-free mobility and top-class performance."
