Handover of 18 of the first BMW i8 Roadsters at BMW Welt. Strictly limited First Edition with exclusive numbering “1 of 18” presented to the international BMW i8 Club.

Munich. A plaque in the interior confirms that these
18 BMW i8 Roadsters (combined fuel consumption: 2.0 l/100 km; combined
CO2 emissions: 46 g/km) came off the assembly line at BMW Group Plant
Leipzig one after the other and are among the first to be handed over
to customers. Yesterday, at BMW Welt in Munich, the BMW i8 Club
received the keys for the exclusive first edition of the breath-taking
plug-in hybrid roadsters from Peter van Binsbergen, head of Sales and
Marketing BMW Germany. Their first outing was to drive in convoy to
Lake Como in Italy for the Concorso d’Eleganza, where they will be
displayed on the grounds of the Villa Erba this weekend.

The exclusive BMW i8 Roadster First Edition, which was only available
to order for a very brief period, is limited to 200 models worldwide.
An exclusive interior plaque on the driver’s side of the centre
console identifies the First Edition as a genuine collector’s item,
inscribed with the words “First Edition” and the limited edition
numbering “1 of 200”. The 18 cars received by the BMW i8 Club are
among the first of these 200 models and, as a special surprise for the
members, are inscribed with “1 of 18”. Special interior options, such
as ceramic applications for operating controls, dry-carbon interior
trim, Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system and the BMW i8 logo projected
in the footwell and when doors are open, are also included in this
exclusive edition.

The presentation was an occasion not to be missed – because, even for
BMW Group employees, the BMW i8 Roadster is a model with especially
strong emotional appeal: Christian Ach, head of Sales and Direct
Business BMW Germany, Dr. Robert Irlinger, head of the BMW i Product
Line, Project Manager Rainer Rump and Robert Forrest, the designer of
the BMW i8 Roadster, joined van Binsbergen in welcoming BMW i8 Club
members from Germany, Switzerland, Singapore and Belgium who made the
trip to Munich specially for the presentation. Club members have been
fans since the beginning and did not hesitate for a second when they
heard about the new BMW i8 Roadster. In addition to the official
handover, the e-mobility enthusiasts also enjoyed a product
presentation from Project Manager Rainer Rump and a tour of the “BMW
i. Visionary Mobility” temporary exhibition at BMW Museum.

“We have been eagerly awaiting this moment for months – in fact, ever
since we saw the first pictures of this gorgeous vehicle. The chance
to enjoy the amazing driving experience of the Coupé in a Roadster is
a dream come true for all of us,” explained Claus-Dieter Bachmann,
president of the BMW i8 Club. “My fellow club members and I have been
especially touched by the warm and enthusiastic welcome we have
received here at BMW Welt. It has been an emotional moment we will
never forget.”

“The BMW i8 Roadster represents many things that are unique about
BMW: fascinating design, visionary technology and sustainable
mobility, but, particularly, emotion and sheer driving pleasure,” says
Peter van Binsbergen. “This sportscar was built for people like the
BMW i8 Club members: absolute automobile enthusiasts who love cars and
dare to defy conventions and try new things. It therefore gives me
great personal pleasure to present the 18 BMW i8 Roadsters to the BMW
i8 Club.”

Unlike most automobile clubs, which tend to be formed at the end of a
model’s lifecycle, the BMW i8 Club was created at the time the BMW i8
Coupé was released onto the market, back in 2014. This underlines the
fascination of this futuristic plug-in hybrid sportscar, which
captivates car aficionados with its unique LifeDrive vehicle
architecture and aesthetically pleasing BMW i design language. Since
its market launch, the BMW i8 has become the world’s top-selling
hybrid sportscar and won countless awards for its visionary design and
ground-breaking vehicle concept. The new BMW i8 Roadster adds the
experience of open-top driving to the combination of locally
emission-free mobility and top-class performance.

The BMW Group is one of the leading suppliers of electrified vehicles
in Germany and Europe. As part of its corporate Strategy NUMBER ONE
NEXT, the BMW Group is systematically expanding its range of
electric vehicles. With a total of nine electrified automobiles, the
company offers the widest range of electric models in Germany. By
2025, the BMW Group plans to offer 25 electrified models, 12 of them
pure electric.  

 

 

If you have any questions, please contact:

 

Corporate Communications BMW Group

Julian Hetzenecker, Business and Financial Communications, julian.hetzenecker@bmw.de

Telephone: +49 89 382-39229

 

Micaela Sandstede, Business and Financial Communications, Micaela.Sandstede@bmw.de

Telephone: +49 89 382-61611

 

Product Communications BMW Automobiles

Paloma Brunckhorst, Product Communications BMW i, Paloma.Brunckhorst@bmwgroup.com,

Telephone: +49 89 382-22322

 

 

Media website: www.press.bmw.de

Email: presse@bmw.de

 

 

 

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW
Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and
motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services.
The BMW Group production network comprises 30 production and assembly
facilities in 14 countries; the company has a global sales network in
more than 140 countries.

In 2017, the BMW Group sold over 2,463,500 passenger vehicles and
more than 164,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the
financial year 2017 was € 10.655 billion on revenues amounting to
€ 98.678 billion. As of 31 December 2017, the BMW Group had a
workforce of 129,932 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established
ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain,
comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

 

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