High-Performance BMW i8 May Be Coming

[B C]

 

 

 

The high performance i8 will have a different scope altogether and won’t be some hardcore hybrid supercar. Because, according to Van Meel “The i8 is not developed as being a supercar, but as comfortable sports car, which you can use daily.”

 

This obviously makes sense, as the M Division’s entire purpose is to create the highest performing vehicles possible and keeping the i8 a comfortable cruiser isn’t something M should be focused on. It also makes sense that BMW would want to keep the i8 a more civilized car, as its customers are not likely ones to favor bone crunching suspension and loud exhausts. Though, the current i8 is no slouch in the performance department and this upcoming one should be even better.

According to a different BMW Senior Official, i8 customers have been asking for more power and some extra sportiness. So it’s possible that track use won’t be out of the question for this high-performance i8. The chassis is already extremely capable for track use, given its incredible lightweight and stiff construction. So it would just need some suspension tuning and more power to be a proper track car. The extra power is said to be coming from a tuned version of the 1.5 liter three-cylinder TwinPower that’s already in the i8, but will be making somewhere around 300 horsepower. Combine that with the electric motors and this new i8 should pack over 400 horsepower.

BMW has also been toying with the idea of a convertible version of the i8, though such a car hasn’t been green-lit yet. We recently discussed why a drop top i8 would be such an attractive and desirable car, so if BMW in the process of building a faster version, it’s possible a drop-top will be coming as well. If one is made, I’m assuming both the standard and high-performance variants will be available in convertible form.

Given that the i8 is one of BMW’s most exciting and intriguing cars, a more powerful and better handling version is music to gearhead ears. Hopefully BMW follows through and is able to put these into production. If so, cars like the Porsche 911 and Audi R8 better look out.

 

Source: BMWBlog

 

 

 

Glad to see they might be taking the Audi R8 seriously. 

[YoungCR]

I like the 6 series style kidneys a lot. 300hp from 1.5 liters is pretty crazy.

[Rowleym]

My boss's son owns one of

These things! Well the "old" i8 or whatever. He ordered it two years ago and then it finally arrived this year.

First time I saw it I didn't really have a clue about the i8. Thought I was looking at some space ship.

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