Every year, a
German aftermarket company is chosen to build a police-themed vehicle for the
“Tune It! Safe!” campaign. Supported by the Federal Ministry of Transport and
Digital Infrastructure, the initiative aims to combat illegal and unsafe
tuning. For 2019, the Association of German Automobile Tuners (VDAT) chose AC
Schnitzer for the job. In its turn, the tuner selected the BMW i8 Roadster
plug-in hybrid sports car as the campaign vehicle and went on to make significant
changes to it.
Debuting at the
Essen Motor Show (November 30-December 9), the “Police BMW i8 TUNE IT! SAFE! by
AC Schnitzer” has a lot going for it. On the outside, AC Schnitzer lowered the
i8 by 20 mm, bringing it closer to the road for increased stability
in corners. The BMW i8 police car also received a set of 21-inch AC1
lightweight forged wheels which are said to save 4.4 kg per rim. As a
result of the weight saving, AC Schnitzer claims the lateral dynamics of the i8
stand to gain as well.
The tuner also
applied an aerodynamics-enhancing kit made entirely of carbon. At the front,
the i8 sports spoiler elements, a center spoiler, winglets on the sides of the
bumper, as well as a bonnet top. The side skirts, “Racing” rear wing, and
three-part rear diffuser round off the aero package, providing more downforce.
Other exterior
tweaks include the carbon door handle shells, mirror caps, as well as the front
grille for the BMW kidney. Everything is wrapped in a typical blue-silver German
police livery with yellow accents and emergency lights.
Inside, the BMW i8
gains more subtle upgrades such as aluminum paddle shifters and pedal set, as
well as a cover for the iDrive rotary controller made from the same material.
There’s no word on performance upgrades, but even in stock form the i8 will
accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in about the same time you can
pronounce “Eins, Zwei, Polizei.”
