The Gentleman Magazine Issue 20 | April 2020 | Page 57

The British "Top Gear" magazine named the BMW i8 "Car of
the Year", as did the jury of "UK Car of the Year". It was voted
"Auto Test winner in green” by "Auto Test" and "Ökotrend".
Renowned awards such as the iF Design Award and the red dot
Award confirmed the quality and charisma of its design.
Trendsetting definition of luxury and exclusivity.
With their progressive and exclusive character, the BMW i8
Coupé and the BMW i8 Roadster are integral parts of the latest
BMW product initiative in the luxury segment. Just like the
luxury sedans of the BMW 7 Series, the Sports Activity Vehicle
BMW X7 and the sports cars of the BMW 8 Series, they also
provide a unique mobility experience. In addition, the "Next
Premium" character of the two plug-in hybrid sports cars is
reflected in the BMW i Pure Impulse Experience programme
created for the BMW i8. The programme for extended dialogue
with customers, which is unique in the world, provides owners
of a BMW i8 with exclusive access to visionary personalities as
well as extraordinary cultural and travel experiences.
The exclusive edition models of the BMW i8 also added a
further flair of individuality. The limited edition models are
characterized by unique design features that make them a
sought-after rarity. The BMW i8 Protonic Red Edition was
presented at the beginning of 2016. Just one year later, the
BMW i8 Protonic Frozen Black Edition and the BMW i8
Protonic Frozen Yellow Edition followed, which will remain
the most exclusive edition worldwide with around 100 units.
Top-selling plug-in hybrid sports car and already a milestone
in the history of the BMW Group.
The Leipzig plant is currently producing the 200 vehicles of the
limited Ultimate Sophisto Edition of the BMW i8. One of the
edition models was already manufactured in December 2019
as the 20 000th unit of the plug-in hybrid model. With this
production volume, the BMW i8 has already outstripped many
a legendary BMW sports by far. Among the milestones in the
history of sports cars, its sales figures are well ahead of classics
such as the BMW M1, of which only 399 units were produced
for road use, and also ahead of the BMW Z8 roadster, which
was built around 5 000 times.
In addition, the BMW i8 has held a global market share
of more than 50 per cent in the segment of sports cars with
electrified drive for years. The BMW i8 will be able to maintain
this leading position until the middle of April 2020. Then the
bestseller with plug-in hybrid drive will have finally achieved
the status that the readers of "Auto Bild Klassik" attested it only
a few months after its market launch. Already in 2014, they
declared the BMW i8 the "classic of the future".
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