BMW taking orders for i8 Protonic

BMW Australia has secured a literal handful of the limited-edition i8 Protonic plug-in hybrid sports car in Frozen Black, and one solitary example of the car in Frozen Yellow.

Following on from last year's Protonic Red edition, the five Frozen Black cars and the single Frozen Yellow Protonic edition are all priced from $303,300 and feature bespoke Frozen Grey metallic accents, 20-inch alloy wheels in a W-spoke design, 'Spheric' seats trimmed in Amido leather with contrasting grey seatbelts.

Other interior features include premium cloth inserts in an Amido/yellow colour combination, embossed logos for the headrests, yellow and anthracite stitching, and black leather floor mats. The gear-shift lever and plinth are finished in black ceramic material and carbon-fibre trim is also applied throughout the interior.

"The BMW i8 has long been the proof of our commitment to a greener future, without compromising on performance," said BMW Australia CEO, Marc Werner.

"Now the latest Protonic Frozen Black and Frozen Yellow Editions provide additional collector appeal, with a focus on high luxury and exclusivity," he said.

Mechanically, the i8 Protonic shares its 170kW/320Nm three-cylinder petrol engine with lesser i8 models, along with the 96kW/250Nm electric motor and the 7.1kWh lithium-ion battery. BMW claims that the combined output of 266kW/570Nm will propel the i8 to 100km/h from a standing start in 4.4 seconds.

The performance is due in part to the i8's lightweight structure, with the car built around a carbon-fibre core. Placement of the battery pack and the drivetrain units ensures a low centre of gravity and near 50:50 weight distribution for enhanced dynamics.

An optional i Wallbox can be installed at home to recharge the plug-in battery pack, or the i8 can be recharged from a standard 10A power outlet, although that takes longer.