CI-R

BBS CI-R - The Flow-Formed Y-Spoke Wheel That Motorsport Built for the Road

The Spokes That Did Not Come From a Road Car

Some wheel designs are drawn for a catalogue. The BBS CI-R was not. Its Y-spoke geometry came from the company's motorsport division - the same department that has supplied forged magnesium wheels to Formula 1 teams for over three decades. Each spoke is back-milled to remove material that does not contribute to strength, a technique carried over directly from racing wheels. The result is a concave, ultra-lightweight wheel that looks like it belongs on a racetrack because it was designed by people who spend their working lives there.

Built on a Different Engineering Premise

Most flow-formed wheels follow the same recipe: cast the face, form the rim, call it done. The CI-R starts from a different premise. BBS engineers designed the spoke geometry first - in the motorsport department, for racing use - and only then decided how to manufacture it. The answer was a hybrid approach: a counter-pressure cast centre that preserves the aggressive Y-spoke shape, and a flow-formed rim that delivers the mechanical properties of a forged wheel. The two halves of the process exist to serve the design, not the other way around. That is why the CI-R weighs less than the CH-R it evolved from, and why it carries a replaceable stainless-steel rim protector as standard - a component borrowed directly from BBS's motorsport programme.

The CI-R Design

The CI-R's defining feature is its five Y-spoke pattern - a design that has become instantly recognisable because it looks equally correct on a BMW M4 and an Audi RS5. The concave shape of the wheel gives it a purposeful, planted stance, and the back-milled spokes reduce visual weight without making the wheel look empty. The CI-R is available in standard finishes including Satin Platinum and Satin Black, with optional Satin Bronze and Ceramic Polish finishes for select applications. It is a design that suits performance cars where the wheel is expected to make a statement without overwhelming the vehicle - a BMW M3, a Volkswagen Golf R, or an Audi S4.

For Performance Cars That Demand Motorsport-Derived Engineering

The BBS CI-R suits owners of BMW M4 (F82/G82), Audi RS5 (B9), and Volkswagen Golf R (Mk7/Mk8) - cars where the wheel must perform under load and look correct at every viewing distance. Start with your vehicle details - we will return a confirmed CI-R specification before the order goes ahead.