Item: BMW i8 Roadster
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

Shock horror, the i8 Roadster isn’t exactly a bargain. Not only is it well over £100k, it costs a fair bit more than £10,000 over the price of the coupé. Yes, you do get more equipment, but not enough to justify that premium. Still, rivals charge a similar amount for the privilege of going topless.

Besides, the i8 is way better equipped than a similarly quick Porsche 911 Cabriolet or even the seriously rapid Turbo model. The kit list includes adaptive LED headlights, heated seats, leather seats with leather trimmings on the dash and doors, a wi-fi hotspot and wireless phone charging. Apart from Apple CarPlay and maybe fancy paint, you won’t have to spend anything else on options – not something you can say about the 911.

Euro NCAP hasn’t crash tested the i8, but standard safety kit is good, including six airbags, collision warning and automatic emergency braking.

The i8 emits just 46g/km of CO2, so monthly company car costs are astonishingly low. Don’t expect to get near the claimed average of 134.5mpg on a regular basis, though, unless you’re running almost exclusively on electric power.

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If you’re in the market for a fast, flashy cabrio costing well over £100,000, you probably want it to sound rather racy. You might think the i8 Roadster’s Mini-derived 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo engine would roar like a dormouse, but it actually emits a fruity rasp.

Sure, you won’t get it confused with a thundering V8 or V10, but there are shades of Porsche 911 to the exhaust note. Even though some of that noise is generated by a speaker, the i8 does sound good.

It’s quick, too. With the engine helped by a front-mounted electric motor, the i8 can sprint from 0-62mph in 4.6sec. That’s certainly quick, but it’s some way off the likes of the Porsche 911 Cabriolet and Audi R8 Spyder.

Of course, neither of those rivals can run near-silently on electric power – something the i8 can do for up to 33 miles on a single charge. The switch between electric and engine power is smooth, as is the six-speed automatic gearbox. The ’box can be a little hesitant to change down in manual mode, though.

Despite having a load of batteries on board, the i8 is light for a car in its class, thanks to carbonfibre-reinforced plastic construction. It also stiffens the car, so there’s very little of the flex you’ll often experience from a convertible’s chassis –perfect for good handling.

Indeed, the steering is precise and the car changes direction very keenly, while the four-wheel drive system ensures it has loads of traction when you’re exiting tight bends. Although most people will appreciate the car’s sure-footedness, enthusiastic drivers might prefer the more playful nature of the 911 or R8.

As for the ride, it’s firm but not unbearably so, thanks in part to standard-fit adaptive dampers. You will notice a fair bit of road noise, but the hood does a good job of insulating you from wind noise. With the roof down, buffeting is kept to a minimum, so you can have a conversation with your passenger at motorway speeds. It takes 15 seconds to raise or lower the roof, and this can be done at up to 31mph.

As a general rule of thumb, mid-engined exotica and environmentally friendliness go together like a room full of lambs and a very hungry wolf. It is, however, possible to get yourself a flash set of wheels while giving the Earth a nice big hug – introducing the BMW i8 Roadster.

This striking slice of futurism combines a dinky 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine with batteries and an electric motor. The result? Heart-pounding acceleration, with CO2 emissions of just 46g/km. Like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i8/coupe/review/n136">i8 Coupé</a>, it has a super-stiff carbonfibre-reinforced plastic passenger compartment to ensure the car doesn’t behave like a microwaved lettuce leaf.

Despite the i8 Roadster’s tiny motor, it goes head to head with drop-top heavyweights such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/sports/review/n169">Audi R8 Spyder</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/sports/review/n17167">Porsche 911 Cabriolet</a> and Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster on price. While these may be quicker, you could argue that none of them has the i8’s visual clout.

Over the next few pages, we’ll see exactly what the i8 Roadster brings to the luxury convertible market.

Even with the roof down, it’s nigh-on impossible to get into the i8 Roadster in a dignified manner. With low seats and wide sills, you pretty much have to fall into the driver’s seat.

Once you’re inside, things are a little mixed. The swooping interior with chrome accents and a fully digital instrument cluster is a nicely futuristic take on the familiar BMW layout, but – even with lashings of leather – the quality is a slight letdown. Yes, there’s plenty of plush plastic, but you’ll also find switches and materials that could have been lifted from a significantly cheaper <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/review/n91">3 Series</a>.

At least it’s easy to find a comfortable driving position, thanks to electric front seats and a steering column that adjusts for height and reach, while the rest of the controls are easy to understand and access. A head-up display is standard, helping you to keep your eyes on the road.

Infotainment is taken care of by a big 8.8in screen that’s mounted high up and angled towards the driver. You can operate it as a touchscreen or there’s a rotary dial between the seats to make it easy to operate on the move. The only disappointment is that you have to pay extra for Apple CarPlay – that’s very stingy in such a pricey car.

Visibility is good for a low-slung sports car and there’s standard parking sensors front and rear, plus a surround-view camera system for low-speed manoeuvring.

Sports

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Low running costs and tidy handling make the BMW i8 Roadster a tempting choice – just don’t expect too much excitement

The i8 Coupé may technically be a four-seater, but the rear pews are only good for children or one of Snow White’s chums. With that in mind, you’re not losing a great deal with the soft-top model being a two-seater. In fact, you gain a handy shelf that’ll take a couple of squishy bags and even a leather-wrapped pocket for maps (although we’d stick to using sat-nav).

You’ll certainly want to use that shelf if you’re planning a weekend away. The i8 Roadster’s boot is significantly smaller than a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/mx-5/sports/review/n17349">Mazda MX-5</a>’s, let alone the one in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/up/hatchback/review/n9">Volkswagen Up</a>. Thank the mid-mounted engine for that.

At least you’ll find there’s plenty of room inside – even six-footers will find enough space to stretch out and it’s unlikely that you’ll feel your scalp brushing the canvas roof. Oddment storage is limited, although there’s a couple of cupholders and a cubby between the seats with wireless charging for compatible mobile devices.

Low running costs and tidy handling make the BMW i8 Roadster a tempting choice – just don’t expect too much excitement

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Ride comfort shouldn’t be sacrificed at the altar of handling sharpness</li> <li>Plenty of power from a melodic engine</li> <li>Handling that doesn’t come at the expense of a back-breaking ride​​​​​</li> <li> Practicality is not essential but nice to have </li></ul>

Driving fun is right at the top of any sports car buyer's priority list, and every one of our award candidates has backroad entertainment coded into its DNA.

The Mazda MX-5 embodies sports-car spirit without wearing an exotic price tag, and has deservedly gained a strong following over the years. Much newer to the scene is the mid-engined Alpine A110. It may carry a name from the past, but this potent, mid-engined sports car was designed with the very latest lightweight thinking.&nbsp;

Rounding off our shortlist, though, is a name that'll be familiar to even those to whom sports cars hold little interest. The Porsche 911 was born an icon in 1964, and the latest generation bridges the gap between sports car and supercar. Yet, somehow, it manages to preserve a distinctly civilised character.

What we're looking for:<ul><li>Wind-in-the-hair excitement</li> <li>Roof that’s quick and easy to raise and lower</li> <li>Comfortable seating for four adults</li> <li>Sufficient practicality for everyday use</li> <li>Little wind buffeting</li> <li>Quietness, whether the roof is up or down</li> <li>Minimal shaking and shimmying over bumps</li></ul>

Despite the British weather, UK car buyers are among the biggest enthusiasts for wind-in-your-hair motoring, so convertibles have always been surprisingly popular here. It’s best to be able to react to the fickle climate, though, so we’re after a roof that opens (and closes) slickly and quickly and good top-down cruising refinement.

There are precious few bespoke drop-tops these days, so your choice of models is generally limited to soft-top&nbsp;versions of existing models. Mini will sell you a drop-top version of its style-focused hatchback, if you’re after a bit of flair. The Audi A5&nbsp;Cabriolet, meanwhile, brings all of the benefits of the regular A5&nbsp;– refined engines and a beautifully finished interior. Alternatively, the much more expensive Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet is one of the most luxurious convertibles on sale.

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