Sunbathing and going green while on tarmac!

With the searing Indian summer upon us already, it must seem out of season to be writing about a drive experience in the new BMW i8 Roadster. But, in sunny, yet balmy Mallorca where I travelled to late last month, for the international media drive of the topless version of BMW’s hybrid sports car, the weather certainly wasn’t a problem.

Part of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca’s spring temperatures range between 10-24 degrees centigrade, with very few days of rain; perfect for driving roadsters. Not larger than an average Indian metro, Mallorca is a hugely popular tourist destination amongst beach goers for its pristine waters and secluded marinas. But with a great mix of low traffic stretches on the plains and winding roads with steep gradients on the few mountains to the North West, Mallorca is also a popular destination amongst cyclists, including the professionals who compete in races like the Tour de France.

Of course, it was only well into our drive that we realised that the narrow single carriageway roads in the hills are a problem negotiating with the long-nosed sports car at hand and the hundreds of cyclists who kept popping up in the middle of all the blind turns.

The i8 Roadster is mostly a replica of the coupe in its exterior design. Of course, it is a two-seater, instead of the Coupe’s two-plus-two configuration.

Beach bod

The Roadster’s soft-top fabric roof and its underlying triple-folding structure gives it a slightly different roofline when in use. Engage the fold-down button, and the roof folds back like a bellow and retracts perpendicularly into an area between the seats and the boot in about 15 seconds. There is still some room behind the two seats (92 litres to be precise) for small bags, a backpack maybe, and some knick-knacks, which can be held in place thanks to foldable flaps. The boot itself is only spacious enough to accommodate an overnighter and a golf bag. So, this is not really the most practical for that long weekend getaway, unless you know how to pack really light. BMW engineers have worked further on light-weighting technologies for the new 2018 coupe and Roadster. One highlight is what looks like an intricately machined high-strength alloy component that is part of the folding roof mechanism. This is a 3D-printed metal part — said to be a first in the industry.

Breezy ride

The i8 Roadster has a few more design differences compared to the coupe. The gull wing doors in the Roadster are frameless and there is the rear glass that can be raised or lowered independently to preserve aerodynamics when the roof is down. Leave it raised if you want to avoid your hair getting all messed up on the way to the beach party. The i8 Roadster’s classic sports car proportions are all identical to the coupe; its design is a mix of traditional BMW features like the shark nose and the ‘i-division’ trademark kidney grille. Shutters on the bonnet and large air scoops in the fender give it a striking, powerful performance sports car look. The rear of the i8 is one of the most interesting backsides of any modern sports car. Strong haunches and blade-like panels combine to give the rear a uniquely taut, aerodynamic design.

The new light-weight 20-inch alloy wheels are striking, fill out the wheel arches nicely and enhance the i8 Roadster’s sporty looks. Extra rigidity of the frame for the Roadster has been achieved simply by strengthening the Life Module and its passenger cell fabricated out of carbon fibre.

Plug-in hybrid!

The other aluminium Drive module consists of the drivetrain, the high-voltage battery pack, the crash system and the structural components. Together they form the LifeDrive vehicle architecture that BMW specially developed for its ‘i’ division cars.

The i8 Roadster’s performance is so engaging to all your senses that it is easy to forget that this is a plug-in hybrid with battery-powered electric motors and a three-cylinder gasoline engine. Like BMW’s tagline, it is meant to deliver sports car performance with the consumption of a small car. The numbers are impressive too — a top speed of 250 kmph and a 0-100 kmph run in 4.6 seconds.

But, it is only after I get behind the wheel and drive off that I get a hang of the big changes to the eDrive technology. The capacity of the high-voltage lithium-ion battery is up from 20 to 34 Ah and the electric motor’s max output has also been raised by 12 hp to 143 hp. So, the Roadster gets a pure electric range of 53 km and can be driven without any assistance from the gasoline engine up to a speed of 120 kmph. Pulling out of the driveway of the hotel and hearing only the scrunch of loose gravel is a little weird and amazing at the same time. Prod the throttle a bit after the Roadster gathers pace and the 231 horses (and 320 Nm of torque) delivered by the 1.5-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine make their presence felt instantly. This is a peppy three-pot mill that spools up really quick thanks to BMW’s TwinPower Turbo technology and is also extremely refined despite its configuration. The power from the electric motors is fed to the front wheels via a two-speed automatic; and the petrol engine’s power is sent to the rear wheels using a six-speed Steptronic transmission.

The exhaust note is acoustically enhanced for delivering that sports car track even though the engine isn’t producing all the notes. But, it is not all noise without substance. The i8 Roadster’s acceleration can really shove you back into the seat. Though there is a mild delay between throttle input and exhaust note, all the other drive dynamics features are all as sharp as any other performance sports car. The best bit is its fuel (European combined cycle) consumption rating of two litres per 100 km, and CO2 emissions of 46 gm per km.

Next stop?

The i8 Roadster can be equally at home on the race track as it will be in the city. With the prospect of silently slipping out of the city with zero emissions and then carving out the tarmac on the hills, the i8 is really capable on both ends of the spectrum. With model-specific tuning for the springs, damping and dynamic stability control, and with dynamic damper control, the suspension is sporty and quick to adjust to road conditions. The cabin of the Roadster, like the updated Coupe too, gets a few additions including the updated touchscreen navigation and infotainment system. A heads-up display is optional.

BMW engineers have also completely reworked the energy management and powertrain management to include many more electric-only drive profiles. So, it is entirely possible to drive this sports car without any guilt; in fact, the small car next to you on the road may pollute more. The i8 Roadster will be launched officially later this year; expect a price upwards of ₹2.5 crore.

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