Alcantara launches the BMW i8 Roadster LimeLight Edition

Alcantara S.p.A., Italy-based manufacturer of artificial suede replacement universally used in modern cars, has joined forces with BMW to produce a one-off based on the i8 Roadster. Called the LimeLight, the topless ride is dazzling in more aspects than just the exterior styling.

The hybrid powertrain the car packs has been deliberately chosen to highlight Alcantara’s dedication to the zero carbon-dioxide emission policy it adopted a decade ago. The i8 still produces 46 grams of CO2 every kilometer, but is also consumes as little as 2.1 liters of gas per 100 kilometers covered (134 MPG in the UK; 112 MPG in the United States). Going electric consumes 14.5 kilowatt-hours per 100 km.

The lime paintjob sure is flashy, but it is still the interior that warrants the most attention. The artificial suede covers literally everything, including the seats, the door cards, the wheel, the dashboard and the center console. The sense of fluffiness is almost tangible!

The company says it did not mess with the roadster’s standard 1.5-liter turbo-three-cylinder mill assisted by a single electric motor, leaving the output at 374 hp (279 kW) and 569 Nm (420 lb-ft) total. The i8 makes it to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.6 seconds and hits its speed ceiling at 250 km/h (155 mph). Purely electric range amounts to 55 km (34 miles), and the soft top extends automatically within 15 seconds as long as you keep going under 50 km/h (31 mph).

It is official that the BMW i8 Roadster LimeLight Edition will not hit mass production any time soon. Furthermore, the i8 series itself will soon be discontinued, so this just might be its last special edition.