BMW
Italia has partnered with Alcantara S.p.A. to create an eye-catching i8
Roadster known as the LimeLight Edition. Designed to exude exclusivity and sustainability, the
one-off model has a two-tone exterior with black wheels that are backed up by a
high-performance braking system featuring yellow calipers. The model also has a
power retractable soft top which can be lowered in 15 seconds at speeds up to 50 km/h.
Given
the car was jointly developed with Alcantara, it’s not surprising the material
covers virtually every surface in the interior. Among the highlights are
two-tone Alcantara sport seats that feature yellow contrast stitching as well
as a yellow inner section with laser cut holes boasting a design inspired by
the propeller of the BMW logo.
The
pattern is echoed on the door panels and Alcantara covers the dashboard, center
console and steering wheel. Elsewhere, there’s carbon fiber trim, blue ambient
lighting and LimeLight Edition badging.
BMW
says Alcantara is a natural fit for the i8 as it’s a carbon neutral material.
The company also noted Alcantara S.p.A. was the first Italian industrial
company to be certified carbon neutral by the TÜV SÜD organization and this
marks their tenth consecutive year earning that achievement.
Getting
back to the i8, the model has a plug-in hybrid powertrain that consists of a
turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine, an 11.6 kWh lithium-ion
battery pack and an electric motor. The electric motor powers the front wheels,
while the engine turns the ones out back.
This
setup gives the car all-wheel drive as well as a combined output of 369 hp. This enables the model to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, hit a top speed of 250 km/h and travel up to 53 km on electricity alone in the NEDC cycle.
