The i8 Roadster chops the top off BMW’s hybrid hero

It’s been a long time coming, but BMW has finally chopped the top off its sportiest hybrid. The i8 Roadster is based on the same carbon fibre-framed tub as the coupe, but now includes 3D printed aluminium body panels and a folding fabric roof that electrically drops in 16 seconds – so everyone can see you being all environmentally friendly. Or as environmentally friendly as a 374-horsepower supercar can be. The 1.5-litre, 3 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine powering the rear wheels has been tuned for a sportier exhaust note, and the batteries powering the electric motor up front have been boosted to 34Ah, for either improved all-electric range or more performance. Combined, you can expect to hit 60 in a neck-snapping 4.6 seconds. The roof might have been deleted, but those iconic scissor doors haven’t gone anywhere – making this one of the best-looking hybrids on the roads. It’ll launch in January from £124,730.

Tom Morgan-Freelander Deputy Editor

About

A tech addict from about the age of three (seriously, he's got the VHS tapes to prove it), Tom's been writing about gadgets, games and everything in between for the past decade, with a slight diversion into the world of automotive in between. As Deputy Editor, Tom keeps the website ticking along, jam-packed with the hottest gadget news and reviews.  When he's not on the road attending launch events, you can usually find him scouring the web for the latest news, to feed Stuff readers' insatiable appetite for tech.

Areas of expertise

Smartphones/tablets/computing, cameras, home cinema, automotive, virtual reality, gaming