- Exploring Valencia in the BMW i8 Roadster

EXPLORING VALENCIA IN THE i8 ROADSTER

BMW SENT ME TO SPAIN TO DRIVE THE NEW i8 ROADSTER

Stef AB posted in Stef ABTV
3y ago
8.2K

Hi Everyone! Last month I was invited by BMW UK to the press launch of the i8 roadster in Valencia. Here is the story and video of how my 36 hour trip unfolded.. Full video on my YouTube channel.

After an early morning start and painful drive to Gatwick airport (courtesy of roadworks and 50 mph average speed limits all the way down the M23) I found myself enjoying breakfast in the British Airways lounge. This consisted of numerous bacon bagels and a cheeky glass of champagne. A few hours later the gate was announced, it was time to jump on board my flight to Valencia.

A view from above.. Next stop Valencia!

A view from above.. Next stop Valencia!

Upon arrival myself and a group of influencers and motor journalists were met by the BMW Press team and we quickly boarded the mini bus to take us to our hotel. The hotel was absolutely stunning, Hotel Balneario Las Arenas to be exact (I thoroughly recommend it). Located slap bang on the on the seafront overlooking the beautiful Cabanyal beach, and a stone throw away from the marina meant that soaking the views from my room’s balcony was spectacular and I hadn’t even seen the car yet!

The first time i saw the i8 roadster and it looked stunning!

The first time i saw the i8 roadster and it looked stunning!

Later that evening it was time to get a first look at the I8 roadster. Already being a fan of the i8 coupe I was very excited to see how the roadster would compare. I navigated my way through a labyrinth of corridors in the hotel and made my way down to the courtyard where I was greeted by some pre dinner drinks and appetisers alongside the main event, an e-copper i8 roadster. I instantly preferred the look of the roadster to the coupe. The roadster has lost its two rear seats and costs more than the coupe and with a starting price of £124,000. It does however gain an extra 100 litres of storage space where the rear seats used to be, would this upset the balance when driving the car? I was to find the answer to my question the following morning. The roof itself only adds and extra 60kg and 62mph is achieved in just 4.6 seconds against the 4.2 of the coupe.

After spending time admiring the car it was then time to go and have dinner, which was very welcomed as the temperature outside was still 33 degrees at 8pm at night and any location with some air conditioning was very much needed! It just happened to be one of the hottest weeks on record in Spain. Dinner was served at the marina beach club. For starters I had grilled octopus and a lobster paella for main. One thing you must try when out in Spain is the seafood.. Truly mind-blowing! Dinner and drinks went on long into the night. I made a conscious effort to leave the beach club early to ensure I was ready for the following mornings drive of the i8 roadster.

Delicious grilled octopus for dinner

Delicious grilled octopus for dinner

The following day at 6am I headed down to reception where my i8 roadster was waiting for me. It was in the new Donnington grey colour with a pre-programmed driving route to take me up into the national park “La Serra Calderona”. Little did I know that these driving roads would be some of Spain’s best. As I set off from the hotel in the early hours of the morning with the roof down it became very apparent just how much of celebrity car the i8 was, particularly in this region of Spain. Each traffic light I stopped at resulted in people taking photos of the car, asking me questions about it and simply staring at its beauty. After feeling like one of Valencia FC's newly signed football players I quietly drove down the coast line not disturbing the peace and look where i ended up!

La Serra Calderona National Park

La Serra Calderona National Park

When I arrived to “La Serra Calderona” the roads instantly got more narrow and twisty. The road camber and inclines started to become more apparent and I quickly found myself driving right up into the heart of the national park. Once reaching the top I parked up the i8 roadster and admired the views but also the car itself. Driving on what I could only call a mini race circuit and the car just inspired confidence for me to keep pushing harder. The low end torque produced by the 1.5L 3 cylinder hybrid engine when in sport mode was so noticeable and fulfilling. The car still handles as good as the coupe (I drove the coupe to Le Mans this year) but with the added driving sensation of being able to absorb all the stunning views, noises and just feel fully immersed in the driving experience. This is what a true roadster should deliver to the driver.

I can only praise the BMW press team for their hospitality, planning and of course the opportunity to drive the i8 roadster.

The full trip shown in the above video includes shots of the incredible “La Serra Calderona” national park. It’s definitely worth a watch. Stay tuned for more content coming soon...

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Comments (4)

  • I need to go back to Spain. Love that country.

      3 years ago
  • Looks like an amazing trip, and look at those stunning views!

      3 years ago
  • Great to find a video of my car!

      2 years ago
  • I have been in Valencia twice watching the America's Cup (2007 & 2010). Valencia is a beautiful place. I love it.

      3 years ago
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