The 2019 BMW i8 Roadster dropped top in Los Angeles last month and now Detroit gets the world debut of the new and improved 2019 BMW i8 Coupe—plus, the debut of the i8 Roadster First Edition, which is limited to 200 units.
The BMW eDrive tech gets a power bump of 12 ponies and now delivers 374 hp for the all-new coupe and the roadster versions. The new i8s are powered by an electric motor and a twin-turbo three-cylinder engine with 143 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels.
The three-cylinder engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The electric motor moves the front wheels with a little help from a two-speed automatic gearbox.
BMW says that battery cell capacity has increased from 20 to 34 ampere hours and gross energy capacity from 7.1 to 11.6 kilowatt hours, which helps raise the electric motor’s peak output to 184 lb-ft of torque.
This allows both models to travel up to 18 miles in all-electric mode. The combined system output has increased to 374 hp and the coupe can zip from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, while drop-top gets there in 4.4.
Both models have a limited top speed of 155 mph and the combined fuel economy is 70 MPGe, according to BMW. The plug-in 2+2-seater BMW i8 Coupe was first introduced in 2014.