Photo: BMW
While Tesla builds the most desirable electric vehicles in the world, BMW settles for the most desirable plug-in hybrid money can buy. From 2014 to the present day, no other plug-in hybrid vehicle has fascinated as much as the BMW i8 did and still does.
However, the Bavarian automaker will likely challenge the status quo of Elon Musk and his Tesla Motors with a pure electric variant of the i8. Speaking to the peeps at AutoCar, BMW development head Klaus Frohlich declared that he and his team are working on it.
Expected to be based on the structure of the hydrogen-powered BMW i8 concept, “the idea is to use the space within the widened center tunnel to house the battery instead of the hydrogen tanks.” Unfortunately, the pure electric i8 won't arrive in time for the facelift.
“Before the aforementioned all-electric model arrives, the current hybrid i8 is due a facelift,” highlights the British publication. Aside from your typical nip and tuck, the 2018 BMW i8 will also get more power and, most probably, better range. Chances are the battery capacity will double from today’s 7.1 kWh to at least 14.2 kWh. As a refresher, BMW did the same thing to the 2017 MY i3, the one with better everything.
On the go-faster front, rumor has it the combined output of the plug-in hybrid powertrain will hike from 357 to 420 horsepower, which isn’t bad at all considering how light the BMW i8 is. It remains to be seen if the 2018 BMW i8 Roadster will mirror the curb weight of the fixed-head coupe, but even if it won’t, I couldn’t care less. It’s a BMW i8 without a roof, for crying out loud! Who would care about such a little triviality?
In related news, the most important job of the i division is an EV. All we know about it right now is not much, but it’s encouraging: “Under the banner of BMW iNEXT, the BMW Group brings new forms of automated driving and digital connectivity together with a new generation of electric mobility, lightweight construction and trailblazing interior design that will set new standards for the customer's mobility experience.”
However, the Bavarian automaker will likely challenge the status quo of Elon Musk and his Tesla Motors with a pure electric variant of the i8. Speaking to the peeps at AutoCar, BMW development head Klaus Frohlich declared that he and his team are working on it.
Expected to be based on the structure of the hydrogen-powered BMW i8 concept, “the idea is to use the space within the widened center tunnel to house the battery instead of the hydrogen tanks.” Unfortunately, the pure electric i8 won't arrive in time for the facelift.
“Before the aforementioned all-electric model arrives, the current hybrid i8 is due a facelift,” highlights the British publication. Aside from your typical nip and tuck, the 2018 BMW i8 will also get more power and, most probably, better range. Chances are the battery capacity will double from today’s 7.1 kWh to at least 14.2 kWh. As a refresher, BMW did the same thing to the 2017 MY i3, the one with better everything.
On the go-faster front, rumor has it the combined output of the plug-in hybrid powertrain will hike from 357 to 420 horsepower, which isn’t bad at all considering how light the BMW i8 is. It remains to be seen if the 2018 BMW i8 Roadster will mirror the curb weight of the fixed-head coupe, but even if it won’t, I couldn’t care less. It’s a BMW i8 without a roof, for crying out loud! Who would care about such a little triviality?
In related news, the most important job of the i division is an EV. All we know about it right now is not much, but it’s encouraging: “Under the banner of BMW iNEXT, the BMW Group brings new forms of automated driving and digital connectivity together with a new generation of electric mobility, lightweight construction and trailblazing interior design that will set new standards for the customer's mobility experience.”
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