Photo: BMW
In April 2020, BMW will pull the plug on its successful i8 plug-in hybrid. With no direct successor planned, the Germans thought of giving the model a final special edition, a farewell version to be remembered down the ages.
Throughout its five years long life, the car has had its share of unique versions, but this will be the last, BMW says. Called Ultimate Sophisto Edition, it will be manufactured in a limited series of 200 units for both the coupe and roadster variants.
Powered by the same 374 hp hybrid powertrain, the car will feature special appointments both inside and out.
On the exterior, the body is painted in Sophisto Grey Brilliant effect, complemented by E-Copper accents on several body parts. Riding on unique 20-inch BMW i light-alloy wheels in radial-spoke design, the car comes with a trim element on the C-pillar and a tailgate inlay in high-gloss black, the same color used for the brake calipers.
At the interior, there’s the Ultimate Sophisto Edition lettering on the door sill plates, and a badge testifying the car is one of 200 made. Black and E-Copper are the colors used, and a head-up display, light package, Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system and ceramic applications for the controls come as standard.
The i8 sold over 7,000 units in Europe and nearly 6,000 in the U.S. since its introduction in 2014. For a car occupying a niche segment and offering an alternative powertrain, that’s not bad. Even so, BMW decided to give up on it for a number of reasons, including the aging technology it uses.
To accompany the launch of this version of the i8 BMW also announced the Edition RoadStyle for the i3s. Using pretty much the same color scheme as the i8, the electric car will see a much larger production run of 1,000 units.
There are rumors the i3 will be killed as well, as the launch of the iNext line of cars looms.
Powered by the same 374 hp hybrid powertrain, the car will feature special appointments both inside and out.
On the exterior, the body is painted in Sophisto Grey Brilliant effect, complemented by E-Copper accents on several body parts. Riding on unique 20-inch BMW i light-alloy wheels in radial-spoke design, the car comes with a trim element on the C-pillar and a tailgate inlay in high-gloss black, the same color used for the brake calipers.
At the interior, there’s the Ultimate Sophisto Edition lettering on the door sill plates, and a badge testifying the car is one of 200 made. Black and E-Copper are the colors used, and a head-up display, light package, Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system and ceramic applications for the controls come as standard.
The i8 sold over 7,000 units in Europe and nearly 6,000 in the U.S. since its introduction in 2014. For a car occupying a niche segment and offering an alternative powertrain, that’s not bad. Even so, BMW decided to give up on it for a number of reasons, including the aging technology it uses.
To accompany the launch of this version of the i8 BMW also announced the Edition RoadStyle for the i3s. Using pretty much the same color scheme as the i8, the electric car will see a much larger production run of 1,000 units.
There are rumors the i3 will be killed as well, as the launch of the iNext line of cars looms.
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