There aren’t many convertibles on the market that look as flat-out cool as the BMW i8 Roadster. With its spaceship-style looks, flying buttresses and pseudo double-bubble roof, it’s just a stunning looking car. The only other convertibles, in my humble opinion, that look quite as good are the Audi R9 V10 Spyder and the Ferrari 488 Spider. Though, due to cost and exclusivity, most enthusiasts will never even see one on the road, never mind drive one. So this new video from AutoTopNL is likely the closest most of us will get to actually driving it.
From the driver’s seat, the i8 Roadster looks as tantalizing to drive as it does from the outside. Not because its interior is as futuristic as its exterior (because it isn’t. It’s almost drab by comparison) but because it seems to blend the future of motoring with the past of motoring so well. Powering the i8 Roadster is a 1.5 liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, paired with an electric motor, which routes power to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic. There’s an additional electric motor at the front axle that powers the front wheels on its own. The entire powertrain works together, with impressive harmony, to create a powerful and exciting experience as well as real-time torque-vectoring all-wheel drive.
With the digital gauges ahead of the driver, you can see when its using electric power, gasoline power or both. You can also control which you use with different drive modes. So if you want to just silently cruise a sunset strip, you can do that. If you want to tackle a twisty back road, you can do that too. Basically, the BMW i8 Roadster is one of the most approachable and usable supercars on the road. Its ability to either plug-in, charge and drive under electric power alone or just refill with gas and hammer away is remarkably impressive.
Plus, just look at it. No seriously, go watch this video and look at it.
