BMW will unveiled the first of several special editions of the BMW i8, billed as the world’s highest-selling hybrid sports car, at next month’s Geneva International Motor Show.

Presenting customers with even more ways to own a very individual BMWi8 car, the Protonic Red Edition will get the ball rolling at show which will be held from March 3 to 13 at the Palexpo convention centre in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Protonic Red Edition will be built in Leipzig, Germany, from July. Like those set to follow in its tyre tracks, it will only available for a limited period. 

This take on the 2+2-seater with carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell and efficient BMW eDrive drive system technology sports a Protonic Red paint finish with accents in Frozen Grey metallic. 

The colour scheme is complemented by BMW W-spoke 470 light-alloy wheels painted in Orbit Grey metallic with hubs painted in Aluminium matt and mixed-size tyres. Inside the inaugural special-edition i8, red double-stitching and applications in high-grade carbon fibre and ceramic provide indications of its exceptional sporting character.

Last year, 5,456 i8 cars were sold globally, exceeding the combined figure of all other hybrid sports cars produced by other manufacturers, according to the German luxury carmaker.

The i8 powered by the combination of a three-cylinder turbocharged engine and an electric drive system. Its innovative plug-in hybrid technology delivers system output of 266 kW/362 hp (fuel consumption combined: 2.1 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 49 g/km). 

“The success of the BMW i8 speaks for itself,” said Ian Robertson, BMW Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “It is already the world’s most successful hybrid sports car and has exceeded our own expectations. I can think of no better illustration of the relevance of our young BMW i brand.” 

Since entering the market in late 2013, BMW i has concentrated exclusively on vehicles designed from the outset for locally emission-free driving. In 2015, sales of the BMW i3 and BMW i8 were around 66 per cent up on the previous year with a total of 29,513 deliveries. 

BMW i currently offers the BMW i3 in 36 countries. This gives BMW i the largest worldwide presence of any electric vehicle manufacturer. In its launch phase, the BMW i brand and its i3 and i8 models have won several awards 

Among the distinctions amassed by the i8 are an International Engine of the Year award for both its TwinPower Turbo three-cylinder engine and overall hybrid drivetrain. The BMW i8 was also voted World Green Car of the Year and Green Luxury Car. And it received the Paul Pietsch Award presented by German motoring magazine “auto motor und sport” in recognition of the most innovative technical concept. No other vehicle has ever picked up such a large number of awards in such an array of different disciplines, says BMW.