An i8-Based BMW Supercar Could Be On The Way With Nearly 700bhp

BMW is said to be mulling over an Audi R8-rivalling hybrid supercar which may use the i8's carbon tub as a base
An i8-Based BMW Supercar Could Be On The Way With Nearly 700bhp

As much as we like the BMW i8, a supercar it is not. But it seems the car’s carbonfibre guts may live on to fight the likes of the McLaren 570S, Honda NSX and Audi R8.

Autocar reports that the German company is “actively considering” a flagship supercar, most likely using the i8’s carbonfibre tub as a starting point.

BMW’s product development boss Klaus Fröhlich told the publication:

“If we have these very compact and very powerful electric driving units, if we have a carbonfibre chassis – for example, the i8’s – and if we still have high-performance engines, then, if you do it cleverly, you can combine them into a real performance package.”

An i8-Based BMW Supercar Could Be On The Way With Nearly 700bhp

With BMW allegedly not replacing the current i8 once it goes out of production, the new supercar will effectively be an indirect successor. Outside of the i8 tub - which is made from recycled carbonfibre - it’d need to be radically different, however. Autocar is suggesting that power output could almost double to nearly 700bhp, made possible by swapping the transverse inline-three for an inline-six. Such an engine would need to be mounted longitudinally.

We’ll be waiting a while to see how exactly this all shapes up. If all this goes ahead, don’t expect the first BMW supercar since the M1 to be launched for at least another four years.

Comments

Sword_Az™

The only bad thing about the I8 is the fake engine sound coming from the speakers

01/02/2019 - 10:33 |
10 | 0

I sometimes want an i8 then put an m3 engine in it

01/02/2019 - 13:14 |
2 | 0

And also that’s it’s slow, build quality is questionable and it looks crap lol. My opinion of course

01/02/2019 - 13:56 |
2 | 2
Robert Gracie

As long as the engine sounds are authentic to the car that will be good!

01/02/2019 - 10:39 |
10 | 0
Kenji (Oldsmobile Fan) (GoldWing Enthusiast) (wheel nut)

I see some extreme potential

01/02/2019 - 10:44 |
60 | 0
TheMindGarage

YES PLEASE! In fact, why stop at a straight-six? Put the V8 from the M5 in there. That driving the rear wheels plus the hybrid system driving the front will make for absolute weapon.

01/02/2019 - 10:56 |
38 | 0
Chewbacca_buddy (McLaren squad)(VW GTI Clubsport)(McLaren 60

In reply to by TheMindGarage

V8 would be too heavy, an S55 with a hybrid system would work better

01/02/2019 - 11:04 |
14 | 0

I’d rather the straight six, it still has great power potential and the original M1 had a straight six so it would be great modernisation of the glorious first supercar from BMW.

01/02/2019 - 17:52 |
0 | 0

or a V10…..

01/03/2019 - 19:25 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

The new 4.0 liters hot vee , a carbon tub and an NSX-like electric front axle wirh torque vectoring … Well… I can live with that !

01/02/2019 - 11:05 |
8 | 0
Anonymous

finally an i8M
or would it be Mi8

01/02/2019 - 11:24 |
4 | 0
A Car Guy

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

i8M sounds better imo

01/02/2019 - 17:53 |
0 | 0
CannedRex24

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Mi8 would definitely get product placement in Mission impossible 8. (Mi8)

01/03/2019 - 10:12 |
2 | 0
RWB Dude

About damn time

01/02/2019 - 11:59 |
4 | 0
LamboV10

So they’re finally planning a successor to the legendary M1? That was about time!

01/02/2019 - 12:02 |
32 | 0
jdm-supra-1600(md squad)(Supra squad leader)

If it’s a hybrid it could be a good competitor to the laferrari

01/03/2019 - 03:24 |
0 | 0
ᴶᵘˢᵗᴬᴿᵃⁿᵈᵒá

With the looks, might as well

01/03/2019 - 06:56 |
0 | 0

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