While the initial hype over the new BMW i8 is far from being over, the prices have started to settle down to acceptable levels. Many customers were able to snag the first few i8 units at MSRP, while others had to pay a premium price to own BMW’s latest and greatest tech wonder. JMK BMW in New Jersey is one of the recent dealerships to advertise an MSRP deal for the i8 with a production date in June.
In the U.S., the base price for the 2015 BMW i8 is $136,500 without the $950 Destination & Handling fee. The hybrid sportscar is offered with four packages, called “World” by BMW: Giga ($2,000), Tera ($3,000), Purse Impulse ($10,800) and Mega (standard). Four exterior colors are offered, Protonic Blue, Sophisto Grey, Ionic Silver and Crystal White.
BMW i8 uses a plug-in hybrid system consisting of a turbocharged three-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine and BMW eDrive technology in the form of an electric drive system. The 1.5-liter combustion engine develops 170 kW/231 hp and drives the rear wheels of the BMW i8, while the 96 kW/131 hp electric drive sends its power to the front wheels and allows an all-electric range of up to 35 kilometers (22 miles) and a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).
This year, the U.S. market will get over 1,000 i8 cars, an increase of 50 percent over previous year. Last year, BMW sold 555 i8 cars to U.S. customers.
