Photo: agespoon/deviantart
Hold on to your seats folks because what we’re about to tell you seems to be coming straight from a BMW fanboy’s wet dream. Rumor has it that the Germans are preparing a hardcore, supercar level version of the i8 that will be called i8S.
That’s right, the guys from Automobile magazine claim that they know something nobody else does and just wrote a story about it. Apparently, everything we hoped for will become reality in 2016 when BMW will launch a 500+ HP version of the i8.
Rumors about such a car have been going around ever since we saw the production version for the first time. With such looks and that crazy light body, it was hard not to get the enthusiasts dreaming at one point or another.
The debate that still has to be settled is over the engine that will be chosen to power the beast. At the moment there are two options on the table: either a 2-liter 4-cylinder or a 3-liter 6-cylinder plant, both of them turbocharged, of course.
The former would make close to 320 HP while the latter would be tuned closer to 480 HP. Sure, that would imply a lot of turbo lag but there will also be an electric motor working on the side, making sure the acceleration will be linear at all times.
Speaking of which, the electric power is also going to be different, depending on the choice they will make with the internal combustion units. For the 2-liter, a 204 HP output is rumored while the 3-liter would get 109 HP as assistance. As you can see, in both cases the combined output would go over the 500 HP limit. The torque will probably be above 500 lb-ft (678 Nm) as well, at the very least.
The debate about the engines is going to settle this issue. The thing is, the 3-liter will be heavier than the 2-liter but at the same time more powerful. A balance between them has to be found.
At the same time, the batteries used will be bigger for the 4-cylinder than for the 6-cylinder to feed the more powerful electric motor so the debate will live on for quite some time, we assume. However, we’re a lot more confident that the right decision will be taken now that Fedeli joined the team. Expect it to become reality in 2016, when BMW celebrates its centenary, and deliveries to commence in 2017.
Rumors about such a car have been going around ever since we saw the production version for the first time. With such looks and that crazy light body, it was hard not to get the enthusiasts dreaming at one point or another.
2-liter inline 4 or 3-liter inline 6?
According to the original source, the car will be developed with the help of the newly hired Roberto Fedeli, the ex-Ferrari engineer that helped put together the brilliant LaFerrari. Furthermore, BMW i manager Ulrich Kranz is also involved, purportedly being more than ecstatic that the project was given the green light.The debate that still has to be settled is over the engine that will be chosen to power the beast. At the moment there are two options on the table: either a 2-liter 4-cylinder or a 3-liter 6-cylinder plant, both of them turbocharged, of course.
The former would make close to 320 HP while the latter would be tuned closer to 480 HP. Sure, that would imply a lot of turbo lag but there will also be an electric motor working on the side, making sure the acceleration will be linear at all times.
Speaking of which, the electric power is also going to be different, depending on the choice they will make with the internal combustion units. For the 2-liter, a 204 HP output is rumored while the 3-liter would get 109 HP as assistance. As you can see, in both cases the combined output would go over the 500 HP limit. The torque will probably be above 500 lb-ft (678 Nm) as well, at the very least.
What about the weight?
In its current configuration, the i8 weighs close to 1.5 tons (3,300 lbs) depending on what optionals you get on it. Of course, that limit will be broken but it’s important to know by how much.The debate about the engines is going to settle this issue. The thing is, the 3-liter will be heavier than the 2-liter but at the same time more powerful. A balance between them has to be found.
At the same time, the batteries used will be bigger for the 4-cylinder than for the 6-cylinder to feed the more powerful electric motor so the debate will live on for quite some time, we assume. However, we’re a lot more confident that the right decision will be taken now that Fedeli joined the team. Expect it to become reality in 2016, when BMW celebrates its centenary, and deliveries to commence in 2017.
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