Earlier in June 2020, BMW confirmed production of its i8 had officially ended. Now, the Munich-based firm has revealed the final 18 examples, each created as a special “one-off”.
Built at the BMW Group’s Leipzig plant, each of the final 18 units was created in “close collaboration” with its buyer.
“The degree of customisation in these vehicles threw up some major logistical and process challenges,” said plant director Hans-Peter Kemser. “But our i production unit has proved yet again that nothing is impossible.”
Interestingly, each of the final 18 special models was finished in a colour that had previously not been applied to the outer skin components of an i8. BMW claims painting such a “large number of exterior parts” in the specified colour made production and logistics “far more complex”. Indeed, the company says the final models were “painted virtually by hand”.
“Yet again, we have proved our ability to meet the highly discerning standards and personal specifications of our customers with unique solutions and unparalleled skill,” said Kemser.
“For BMW i8 production to end with a finale like this is something we can all be very proud of.”
The final vehicles furthermore boast customised components in their cabins, such as Alcantara covers for the seats and steering wheel, as well as special trim strips and facia panels.
BMW built about 20 500 units over around six years, with the final i8 coming in the form of a roadster finished in Portimao Blue. Production was scheduled to end in April but delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic saw the final units being built in mid-June instead.
The i8 was revealed in Frankfurt in 2013, alongside the fully electric i3. While production of the i8 coupé started in Leipzig back in 2014, the roadster joined the assembly line as recently as February 2018.
The all-paw i8 is powered by a turbocharged 1,5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor (the latter drawing urge from a 34 Ah battery), resulting in total system outputs of 275 kW and 570 N.m.
For the time being, the i8 is still listed on BMW South Africa’s website, with the coupé priced from R2 286 800 and the roadster starting at R2 542 900.
