BMW makes the i8 even rarer with one-off Concours d’Elegance Edition

By Stephen Edelstein Published August 12, 2014

It’s not uncommon for automakers to create special editions of existing models to keep customers interested, using exclusivity and exotic paint colors as selling tools.

BMW shouldn’t have any trouble moving the 2015 i8 plug-in hybrid, but it’s created a special edition nonetheless. Named for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance where it will debut, the i8 Concours d’Elegance Edition is very special indeed.

That’s because it’s one-of-a-kind. You’re looking at the sole example, which will be auctioned off at the Gooding & Company event this Saturday and make its way into the garage of one iconoclastic owner.

Aside from its singular status, the special-edition i8 is distinguished by BMW’s Frozen Grey Metallic paint. Previously seen on other models like the previous-generation M3 (and mocked by Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear), it’s got a finish that’s flat but with metallic effect.

RELATED: 2015 BMW i8 first drive review

On the inside, the i8 sports Dalbergia Brown leather upholstery which, in keeping with the car’s green mission, is dyed using plant extracts. It also gets the top Pure Impulse Tera World interior trim, with accents in BMW Blue.

BMW also plans to equip the i8 Concours d’Elegance Edition with laser headlights, pending U.S. government approval. The buyer also gets a charging station, and a set of Louis Vuitton luggage.

Unchanged is the plug-in hybrid powertrain, which consists of a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engine with six-speed automatic transmission, and an electric motor. Combined power output is 362 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque.

With its groundbreaking design, the i8 is sure to be remembered as a significant car. How will it stack up against the acknowledged classics at Pebble Beach today?

Perhaps one-off version will return to Pebble in a few decades, and move from the auction block to the lawn for display among other classic.

Topics

Photo Galleries

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Mini’s infotainment system is very charming, but still needs work

Main screen of the Mini infotainment system

When you think Mini, you probably don’t think of infotainment. Personally, I think of the British flag taillights, the distinct exterior, and the surprising room on the inside. But after driving the Mini John Cooper Works Countryman over the past week, infotainment might well be something I think of more often when it comes to Mini. It’s charming.

It also, however, suffers from all the traps that other legacy automakers fall into when it comes to software design. Mini has something on its hands here — but it still needs some work.
Bringing the charm
The first thing that stood out to me about the system when I got in the car was how fun it was. That all starts with the display. It’s round! No, it’s not curved — the screen is a big, round display sits in at 9.4 inches, and I found it plenty large enough for day-to-day use.

Cars

Plug-in hybrids are becoming more popular. Why? And will it continue?

Kia Niro EV Charging Port

There's a lot of talk about the idea that the growth in electric car sales has kind of slowed a little. It's not all that surprising -- EVs are still expensive, early adopters all have one by now, and they're still new enough to where there aren't too many ultra-affordable used EVs available. But plenty of people still want a greener vehicle, and that has given rise to an explosion in hybrid vehicle sales.

That's especially true of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged like an EV and driven in all-electric mode for short distances, and have a gas engine as a backup for longer distances or to be used in combination with electric mode for more efficient driving.

Cars

EV drivers are not going back to gas cars, global survey says

ev drivers are not going back to gas cars global survey says screenshot

Nearly all current owners of electric vehicles (EVs) are either satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, and 92% of them plan to buy another EV, according to a survey by the Global EV Drivers Alliance.

The survey of 23,000 EV drivers worldwide found that only 1% would return to a petrol or diesel car, while 4% would opt for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) if they had to replace their car.