BMW And Alcantara Unveil The i8 Roadster LimeLight Edition

BMW Italia has partnered with Alcantara S.p.A. to create an eye-catching i8 Roadster known as the LimeLight Edition.

Designed to exude exclusivity and sustainability, the one-off model has a two-tone exterior with black wheels that are backed up by a high-performance braking system featuring yellow calipers. The model also has a power retractable soft top which can be lowered in 15 seconds at speeds up to 31 mph (50 km/h).

Given the car was jointly developed with Alcantara, it’s not surprising the material covers virtually every surface in the interior. Among the highlights are two-tone Alcantara sport seats that feature yellow contrast stitching as well as a yellow inner section with laser cut holes boasting a design inspired by the propeller of the BMW logo.

Also Read: BMW Drops The Top On New i8 Roadster

The pattern is echoed on the door panels and Alcantara covers the dashboard, center console and steering wheel. Elsewhere, there’s carbon fiber trim, blue ambient lighting and LimeLight Edition badging.

BMW says Alcantara is a natural fit for the i8 as it’s a carbon neutral material. The company also noted Alcantara S.p.A. was the first Italian industrial company to be certified carbon neutral by the TÜV SÜD organization and this marks their tenth consecutive year earning that achievement.

Getting back to the i8, the model has a plug-in hybrid powertrain that consists of a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine, an 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor. The electric motor powers the front wheels, while the engine turns the ones out back.

This setup gives the car all-wheel drive as well as a combined output of 369 hp (275 kW / 374 PS). This enables the model to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.6 seconds, hit a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h) and travel up to 33 miles (53 km) on electricity alone in the NEDC cycle.