[fishpond]

Originally Posted by AwesomeM3

But what about the roof? When will BMW announce if it is a retractable hard-top, or a manual removable top?

Definitely a soft top - that's been confirmed already. It will fold into what is the current rear seat area.

[HondoMac]

Originally Posted by Jo-Sta07

They need to give the i8 50+ more hp.

+1 n' add another 100hp while you're at it.

Originally Posted by Jo-Sta07

Can't have your hybrid super car...

Hybrid Super Car..?
No offense, but I think you guys need to accept the reality and let go of that concept. It's pretty much over.

Originally Posted by bmwmnation

Borinnggggg

Agreed.
Obviously things are going in a different direction.

[AwesomeM3]

Originally Posted by JasH

I will let you know next week

You're seeing the i8 Roadster in person??? Please fill us in ASAP!!

[AwesomeM3]

Originally Posted by fishpond

Definitely a soft top - that's been confirmed already. It will fold into what is the current rear seat area.

Not happy about that

[fishpond]

Originally Posted by AwesomeM3

You're seeing the i8 Roadster in person??? Please fill us in ASAP!!

It's rumoured that we will get a preview this weekend in Munich at the Pure Impulse event.

[ericsi]

this car has been talked about for so long. It's a case of too little too late in my view.

I love my i8 but i think losing the 2 rear seats, soft targa top and no power upgrade is very much meh...

When you see what the competition comes up with in terms of exciting products, bmw should wake up and smell the coffee.

Don't get me wrong, i love my i8, but this really won't get my check book out.

[AwesomeM3]

Originally Posted by fishpond

It's rumoured that we will get a preview this weekend in Munich at the Pure Impulse event.

Very nice!

Waiting for more info after this weekend

[Jo-Sta07]

Originally Posted by ericsi

this car has been talked about for so long. It's a case of too little too late in my view.

I love my i8 but i think losing the 2 rear seats, soft targa top and no power upgrade is very much meh...

When you see what the competition comes up with in terms of exciting products, bmw should wake up and smell the coffee.

Don't get me wrong, i love my i8, but this really won't get my check book out.

Totally right. A less than 10% power increase is a complete head scratcher.

[JasH]

Originally Posted by fishpond

It's rumoured that we will get a preview this weekend in Munich at the Pure Impulse event.

99.9% certain I'd say.

And sadly yes, I very much expect a fabric top.

[drlonline]

JasH,

While you're at the PI event, do me a favor and see if they'll give you any info on when the new 8 series production car will be revealed. I'm hoping it will be shown at the Frankfurt Auto Show this September, along with the i8s and i8 roadster. These are the 3 cars I'm considering when my current lease ends next Spring.

[JasH]

I will ask. Whether they will tell me is another matter

[drlonline]

Originally Posted by JasH

I will ask. Whether they will tell me is another matter

Thanks. No harm in asking. BTW, I'll be equally interested to hear what details you might get concerning the 2018 i8 LCI (i8s?). If they're willing to show the roadster to PI participants, perhaps they'll also be willing to give some advance info on the i8 refresh.

[zagaboo]

Originally Posted by JasH

99.9% certain I'd say.

And sadly yes, I very much expect a fabric top.

While it's so obvious that a crowd of i8 owners should be shown the i8 roadster, I can't help but feel they will 'surprise' us with the 8 series :-(

[Apple Corps]

Originally Posted by Twitch Massacre

A disaster how? I keep reading this since the sales report was posted and keep scratching my head at how people dissect information nowadays. Production has been winding down on the coupe. So perhaps say "production has been a disaster". That would be more accurate and still inaccurate as can be.

On another note getting in and out of cars with elevated doorsills is quite simple: 1. Sit on the doorsill. 2. Slide into the seat "ass first" 3. bring legs in one at a time. Not exactly rocket science...

Now that that's cleared up let's get back to the Roadster.

Hardly "cleared up" per your comments - June'16 - June'17 SALES are down 64% for that YTD (not just the June production scale down). The June to June monthly is down 84% - I have to scratch my head on how you see it so differently. Getting in and out - I referenced Harry Houdini, not Wernher von Braun.

[Twitch Massacre]

Originally Posted by Apple Corps

Hardly "cleared up" per your comments - June'16 - June'17 SALES are down 64% for that YTD (not just the June production scale down). The June to June monthly is down 84% - I have to scratch my head on how you see it so differently. Getting in and out - I referenced Harry Houdini, not Wernher von Braun.

June of last year production was at more than 14 cars per day. More than double the current production.

[jwestfield]

I had one of the first in the US - then got a replacement one exactly one year later - and then my third about 1.5 years ago. Stupid move, I know. (I lease them and just traded out.)

The i8 is stunning visually - but it's inside is boring and does not have the sophistication associated with a $150k+ car. I do have Laserlights in the current one and that is nifty.

In terms of getting in and out, it's quite difficult - and I have had three years' practice. It is a major issue and always will be.

When I go out to my garage, I rarely choose to drive the i8 because it is not comfortable nor does it have the basic gadgets my other bmw has. I drive my other car each and every time because I would rather be comfortable and have the driver assist systems etc that it has.

I think the convertible version may get some buyers - but clearly bmw has not thought through growing the i8 concept since its landmark development many years ago.

They are too busy trying to figure out how to create new series and variants and are not at all focused on further development of the concept that clearly put them ahead of the race years ago, but now has them at the back of the line in terms of innovation and design originality.

[Apple Corps]

Originally Posted by Twitch Massacre

June of last year production was at more than 14 cars per day. More than double the current production.

Maybe production is down because sales are down....

[zagaboo]

The roadster was indeed unveiled at the ipure event last night. No photos allowed :-( but it looked stunning in bronze :-0

[Docray1]

Originally Posted by zagaboo

The roadster was indeed unveiled at the ipure event last night. No photos allowed :-( but it looked stunning in bronze :-0

Was the top powered, or did it require manual removal and storage? Any word on other changes, power upgrades, etc? Any comments as to an official intro and on-sale date?

[zagaboo]

Originally Posted by Docray1

Was the top powered, or did it require manual removal and storage? Any word on other changes, power upgrades, etc? Any comments as to an official intro and on-sale date?

Powered top folds into body neat and tidy, in a space where rear seats are on the coupe. It's quite quick too.

Wouldn't divulge any figures at all on range and performance but it has battery and engine 'tweaks'. Production starts Jan 18 with first deliveries around mid 18.

It definitely WONT have parking via the display key though :-(

[Twitch Massacre]

Originally Posted by Apple Corps

Maybe production is down because sales are down....

Production was originally what it is now. 7 a day. It was increased at the height of the price gouging and was always meant to be rolled back again.

[skinrock]

Originally Posted by zagaboo

Powered top folds into body neat and tidy, in a space where rear seats are on the coupe. It's quite quick too.

Wouldn't divulge any figures at all on range and performance but it has battery and engine 'tweaks'. Production starts Jan 18 with first deliveries around mid 18.

It definitely WONT have parking via the display key though :-(

Sounds like there is going to be a small, but nice boost from the eDrive.

Do you know if the soft top is here to stay, or if the production model will use hard top (carbon fiber?).