BMW i8 has garnered immense popularity around the world in very short span thanks to its amazing styling and plug-in hybrid powertrain technology. An all new BMW i8 prototype has been spotted testing in Germany, which sports extra cooling vents, larger AP racing brakes and an all new rear engine cover, suggests that the German automaker might be planning to introduce a more powerful engine to the hybrid supercar.
As the reports indicate, the 2018 BMW i8 would come featuring a re-tuned 1.5 litre B38A15T0 turbocharged petrol engine. Along with that, the electric motor and the 6 speed automatic transmission will also receive upgrade. Resultantly, the entire powertrain mechanism will churn out extra 420 hp of peak power. There is another rumor doing rounds, which suggests BMW would introduce an all new variant which is more performance oriented.
The new variant would be donning a badge i8S. This new variant of i8 might come powered by a larger 2.0 litre bi turbo four-cylinder engine which would generate around 320 hp of peak power or it might also get a even more larger 3.0 litre inline six-cylinder motor which would generate 480 hp of peak power. Additionally the electric motor inside the car will receive an upgrade too.
BMW introduced the i8 supercar in 2014. Presently, the outgoing model of BMW i8 is powered by a 1.5 litre turbocharged petrol engine which produces 228 hp of peak power at 5800 rpm and 320 Nm of peak torque at 3700 rpm and along with that there is a hybrid synchronous electric motor which generates 129 hp of peak power and 250 Nm of peak torque.
Although the German luxury auto manufacture is still tight lipped about the upcoming BMW, we can expect the new car to come out of cover officially later this year. BMW might present the car as a special product as the company is celebrating its 100 years of foundation.
Source: motor1
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