Gallery: BMW unveils its sporty i8 Roadster

BMW has unveiled its new 2-seater open-top sporty hybrid i8 Roadster at this year’s LA Auto Show.

In addition, the German car marque has also revealed details of its undated version of its popular plug-in hybrid car, the BMW i8 Coupe.

The new BMW i8 Coupe accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, while the new BMW i8 Roadster takes a tick longer with a time of 4.6 seconds. Both models have an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.

Like the new BMW i8 Coupe, the new BMW i8 Roadster is based on the LifeDrive vehicle architecture with aluminium chassis and carbon-fibrereinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell. The further optimised BMW eDrive technology comprises a high-voltage battery with significantly expanded cell capacity and energy content, and an electric motor generating a higher peak output to optimise performance.

The open-top two-seater Roadster comes with newly designed frameless gullwing doors made from CFRP with an aluminium outer shell, while the windscreen frame is made entirely from CFRP, leaving the car weighing just 60kg more than standard, at 1,595kg.

The new BMW i8 Coupe and new BMW i8 Roadster can be driven exclusively on the electric motor alone – from step-off to a speed of 105 km/h, which is up from 70 km/h in the original i8.

The combustion engine is only brought into play at higher speeds or when the driver stamps down hard on the accelerator, and is switched off again far more frequently when a measured driving style is maintained. Pressing the eDrive button allows both models to travel at up to 120 km/h on electric power alone.

The updated i8 Coupe’s price is around five per cent higher than before, at £112,730. while the Roadster starts at £124,730.