History & character

The project dates back to the Vision EfficientDynamics concept unveiled by BMW at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009, and subsequently to the creation of the BMW i sub-brand. The LifeDrive architecture pairs a carbon passenger cell with an aluminium technical module, a rare industrial choice, produced at the Leipzig plant from 2014. The Roadster joined the coupé in May 2018. Production ended in June 2020, after 20,465 units, including 3,884 Roadsters.

The character owes less to power than to manner. The combined 374 horsepower comes from a turbocharged three-cylinder engine driving the rear axle and an electric motor at the front, giving all-wheel drive and silent running in pure electric mode. The carbon construction keeps mass in check, and the driving position remains low. The Roadster adds a retractable soft top and this simple truth: an avant-garde sports car, more interesting to understand than to hustle.