A series of bombshell articles went live the past couple of weeks. Automobile Magazine took the BMW world by storm unveiling the plans of future BMW products. While most of the report was accurate, there were still a few gaps, like the 6 Series GT story and the i3. Both cars were reportedly getting a successor, but our sources pointed to the exactly opposite.
BMW i8 plug-in hybrid was another model that came forward. Initially, we believed that the next i8 will take the shape of the recently unveiled Vision M Next. But it turns out that BMW is in fact planning two separate products.
The i8 as we know it today will get renewed for another season, with a new design and new tech, while the Vision M Next will arrive in a production form in 2023. But as a standalone M product which will deliver some exceptional tech and performance.
As far as the i8, Automobile Magazine mention a future i8 PHEV with a 340-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder mated to a beefed up 150-kW (201-hp) electric motor. The suspension will be thoroughly revised for sportier handling.
We learned that it’s only the i8 Coupe model that will live to fight another day, while the Roadster model gets the axe.
While the i8 was always a niche model, it has done wonders for the brand. It gave an identity to the BMW i division and showcased some advanced construction techniques and materials which are still quite unique today.
On the design front, the i8 was and still is a polarizing car, a head-turner, and it is now fully associated with the BMW brand. A few years back there were many people that had to look twice at the car before realizing that it carries the BMW badge.
Therefore, we expect the second-gen i8 to continue down the same path of innovation and futuristic design, but it will be at least 4-5 years until we see a new model.
Hopefully a 700hp+ awd electric vehicle
uhhhg but it isnt manual blah blah blah
Coming decade is looking like it’ll see a big return for sportscar/supercar. Regular saloons will suffer a bit for that reason. BMW will make a lot of sense going with i8 and production version of M Next. With arrival of Corvette C8, lots of eyes will be watching the pricing of i8 now and going forward.
Good news then, more sports cars in the lineup.
i8 is ahead of the times like i3. Easily could continue for another 5 years. Would not be too surprised to see an update running M Vision Next powertrain, or even full electric.
One thing it is not is a “sports car.” Sporty hybrid would be its best description.
Maybe the era from 2010-2020 is officially ending with a strong pivot.
Other than Van Meer’s team bringing decent AWD to M and learning their lessons with the F80/82 and applying to F87, there has not been a noteworthy product IMO.
As they say, customers speak loudest with their money and so far I’ve seen a lot of bloated F80/82s sitting in inventory and not carrying the proverbial baton the M3 predecessors carried. Even though the numbers still showed growth (maybe due to new markets) but it feels like in hindsight this was the era that BMW repeatedly worked its way out of the segment benchmarks that it used to dominate year after year (e.g. F10, F30/32, G11).
Yes, they are struggling with their biggest M range ever. Where exactly are you stalking bloated parked inventory?
Let’s hope for a significant successor of the i8 – I love my little racer. I do NOT look forward to retire it or fall totally behind.
There should be a good one.