Does the BMW i8 have a convertible version?
4 Answers
The BMW i8 does have a convertible version. Here are some relevant details about BMW: 1. Body dimensions: The BMW i8 is a 2-door, 2-seater soft-top sports car with a body length, width, and height of 4689mm, 1942mm, and 1282mm respectively, and a wheelbase of 2800mm. It features a mid-engine four-wheel-drive layout, with an independent double-wishbone front suspension and a five-link independent rear suspension. 2. Fuel consumption: For the BMW X5 3.0L model, the official combined fuel consumption is 9.7L, with actual consumption around 10L. The BMW X5 4.0L model has an official combined fuel consumption of 11.9L, with actual consumption around 20L.
I remember the BMW i8 did have a convertible version, but to be clear, it wasn't a traditional soft-top. The i8 Roadster, launched in 2018, featured a folding hardtop design that could retract into the rear compartment in just 25 seconds with the press of a button. However, this version was 60 kg heavier than the coupe, and the rear half of the body was completely redesigned. The coolest part was the integrated rollover protection system, allowing the roof to be operated at speeds up to 90 km/h. Back then, it cost nearly 2 million RMB out the door, and while you can still find some on the used market now, the convertible versions are particularly rare. Unfortunately, production ended in late 2019, so if you're looking for one, you'll have to hunt the pre-owned market.
Last year, I helped a friend inspect a used i8 Roadster and confirmed it was the version with the electric convertible top. With the roof closed, it looks like a regular sports car, but when opened, there are two glass wind deflectors behind the B-pillars. However, during actual driving, I noticed the storage space is particularly small, as the convertible mechanism occupies the front trunk. The sound of the 1.5T three-cylinder engine becomes more noticeable with the top down, though the electric motor helps compensate in acceleration. Driving this car means accepting reduced range—the battery wasn’t enlarged, but the car is heavier, resulting in a full-charge range about 15 km less than the hardtop version.
The BMW i8 Roadster is the convertible version, but it's quite different from regular convertibles. Its roof is made of carbon fiber and stands upright at the rear when folded, leaving almost no trunk space. The body has been reinforced, with door frames thickened by five centimeters. Interestingly, the air conditioning automatically increases airflow when the roof is down, and there's a neck-level warm air system. This car is a limited edition globally, with only a few hundred units in China. Currently, its used price is about 300,000 yuan higher than the hardtop version of the same year.
