BMW displayed the Vision M Next design concept, which most likely hinted at the following electric sports car.
Gran Turismo was the beginning of it all. Sean has always had a fascination with things that move thanks to his early PlayStation days. He worked as a freelancer for Motor Authority, The Car Connection, and Green Car Reports before joining the Roadshow team. Sean has a 2016 Chevrolet SS, and it does have Holden badges, in the garage.
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It’s probably best if we don’t discover more about the vehicle programs that were canceled as a result of the coronavirus epidemic because doing so simply fuels regrets about what might have been. But regrettably, it appears that the anticipated BMW i8 replacement is no longer an option.
As a result of the coronavirus forcing so many businesses to cut costs, BMW canceled the replacement, according to a story from Germany’s Manager Magazin in late April. Low-selling sports vehicles are never the wisest investments, and as the world frets over the future of the economy, a sports car probably elicited unfavorable responses within BMW. According to the article, the automaker ended the program primarily due to costs. Naturally, we have no way of knowing if this is the case, but it probably is.
The Vision M Next design study that BMW unveiled this summer gave us a potential sneak peek at the upcoming sports car. The crazy style appeared to be a beautiful step up from the already futuristic i8 and was wedgy, edgy, and cutting-edge. The vehicle had a turbocharged inline-four that produced 600 horsepower and could travel 62 miles on electricity alone, making it a powerful plug-in hybrid. The technology used, such as facial recognition to open the car, was characteristic of a concept from the future.
BMW declined to comment further on the rumors, emphasizing that the Vision M Next was “not a concept car for a specific model but a design study that was displayed at numerous motor shows last year.”
We’ll probably never find out what happened to the i8 replacement, though. We can find solace in the fact that there are a ton of other M models.
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This Could Be the Look of the Production-Ready BMW Vision M Next, or M1.
Retro designs are once again a topic of discussion in the automobile industry after Lamborghini decided to turn an Aventador into the new Countach. The M1, which BMW “came back” a number of times, is one of the many vehicles that merit a second generation. The M1 Homage was used the first time in 2008. When it comes up, some people will still be upset that BMW only retained it as a concept.
With the release of the Vision M Next in June 2019, the German automaker returned to the subject. Unfortunately, the plan to build an automobile based on it also failed, but rendering artist Theottle was unwilling to accept that, so he created a rendering of what the actual vehicle may have looked like.
The benefit of Theottle’s work is that, because to his YouTube account, you can track its progress rather than just looking at the final product. He claimed that “converting the granite-textured surfaces to solid colour” was what took him the most time. Looking at the video, it appears like everything required a lot of effort.
The i8 was expected to be replaced by the Vision M Next. Additionally, a plug-in hybrid powertrain would be available, but with a much larger battery pack. With just a battery charge, the owner of this new M1 could travel 100 kilometers (62 miles). It would have a four-cylinder turbocharged engine with an unknown displacement (we bet on a 2-liter, but…) that would enable it to reach a top speed of 300 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just three seconds. With both engines, it would have 441 kW.
We would not be as confident in BMW’s assertion that the international health crisis caused the demise of the other M1 project. Despite having a stunning appearance, the i8 did not sell too well. Would it be wise to design a successor for a car that might not be profitable during the EV transition? Shouldn’t the new M1 be completely electric and offer astounding performance as the Tesla Model S Plaid does?
BMW might be waiting for the Solid Power solid-state batteries to be ready before considering a revolutionary M1 replacement. Whether you like the Theottle production version or not, the third attempt to revive the M1 might be the only one that actually succeeds.
It Must Have More Power Than 370 HP
As you are already aware, the BMW i8 M will have a plug-in hybrid powertrain, and just like the previous i8, it will generate power using a mix of two independent electric motors and a gasoline engine.
The battery’s features are still largely unknown. Nothing extraordinary is anticipated, although going all-electric should support up to 62 miles, which seems promising enough compared to the old 18-mile battery pack.
The mid-mounted 1.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine is paired with one of the electric motors to power the rear wheels. However, the all-wheel-drive system will also be available with the front wheels being driven by a different electric motor. More power isn’t necessarily anticipated from BMW’s next supercar, despite the fact that there isn’t much official information on how much output we may obtain.
BMW bragged of a 591-HP output for the 2019 concept car, which has a top speed of 186 MPH and accelerates to 62 MPH in three seconds. Overall, the numbers are absurd; hopefully, they won’t change for the i8 M (and maybe even improve a little).
The BMW i8 was decades in advance. Even now, the technology of the early gen cars holds up well when compared to modern PHEVs, making them true PHEV supercars. Unfortunately, it won’t be replaced because the Vision M Next project was covertly abandoned. Don’t give up though; an electric M5 is on the way.
The Vision M Next may have been covertly canceled, according to BMW Blog. The supercar, which is seen as the i8’s obvious successor, was unveiled to the public in concept form in June 2017 at the brand’s #NEXTGEN event.
Its unusual, retro-modern body forms, which incorporated design cues from the M1—BMW’s first supercar—had great potential to be beautiful. It had a deep kidney grille in the manner of a turbine, a Hofmeister kink, a louvred rear screen in the style of an M1, and rear lights in the style of a 2002 Turbo, among other features that BMW described as a “contemporary version of historic BMW trademarks.”
BMW was promoting a new PHEV powertrain under the hood that offered 591 horsepower, 186 mph, and a 0-62 mph pace of about three seconds. The brand also claimed two- or four-wheel drive choices.
The idea has actually been abandoned for some time, according to insiders inside BMW as well as a German magazine (Manager-Magazin). The justifications it provides for canceling the project line up with our knowledge as well. Despite its many advantages, the i8 wasn’t exactly a large seller, so there’s no certainty that BMW will ever achieve the sales volume required to break even on a highly expensive project.
As if there wasn’t already a lessened desire to produce a new i8, the coronavirus arrived and significantly hurt the bottom line of the auto industry. BMW appears to have made the decision to abandon the vanity project, like many other manufacturers, in favor of a wider selection of PHEVs across its volume models, such the new 5 Series that we recently reviewed.
The good news is that. The G60, the next-generation M5, will be an electric vehicle, claims CAR magazine. And based on our best assessment, BMW will focus its earlier work on the Vision M Next on the upcoming generation of high-performance EVs.
The BMW i8 will be replaced, but when?
For the 2024 model year, the i8 M—or whatever name BMW chooses for its upcoming hybrid sports car—will be completely new. As we come closer to the car’s release date, which is anticipated to be somewhere in 2023 as a 2024 model, we anticipate learning more.
How recent is the BMW i8?
The 2021 i8 has a single powertrain that combines a 1.5-liter three-cylinder gas engine that has been turbocharged with an 11.6-kWh battery and two electric motors. The three engines work together to provide 369 horsepower, which can drive all four wheels.
What makes the BMW i8 unique?
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The BMW i8 offers a combination of style, performance, and efficiency that is unmatched by any other vehicle in its class. It’s not as entertaining to drive as the more affordable, class-leading Porsche 911, but many will find the dramatic style and eco-friendly image alluring.
While it can’t quite match the i8’s supercar-like appearance, performance is by no means inadequate, and there is more than enough power to enjoy driving. However, experienced drivers may find the driving experience to be a little disjointed; if you require a practical daily sports car, there are more roomy competitors available.
The BMW i8 is a novel offering in the market for high-end sports cars. The i8, a Porsche 911 challenger, injects some environmental awareness into the market with the help of its petrol-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Its expensive pricing and affordable operating expenses are both belied by its exotic appearance.
The BMW i8 joins the i3 hatchback as a member of BMW’s “i” eco lineup. It has a superior carbon fiber construction for strength and lightness, and its 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine and electric motor work together to deliver power to all four wheels. It’s still a relatively uncommon sight, especially given that BMW has been selling the i8 since 2014. The vehicle is not as prevalent as its Porsche 911 competitor due to low production levels.
At first glance, the powertrain idea doesn’t sound all that interesting, especially if you want your supercars to have large multi-cylinder engines. By sportscar standards, the i8’s three-cylinder engine only puts out 228 horsepower, but there is an additional 141 horsepower from an electric motor driving the front wheels to help provide the necessary power.
What does the I in the BMW i8 stand for?
Born Electric served as the tagline for the 2011 launch of the BMW I brand. The letter “i,” which once stood for injection in BMW’s gasoline and diesel engines, is now used to represent the future of mobility. A comprehensive approach to sustainable mobility is embodied by the BMW i. BMW considers not only the final product but also the manufacturing process, which now makes use of 100% green energy, renewable and recycled materials, and digital services while using 70% less water.
The first vehicle in the I Series was the BMW i3, which was introduced in 2014. Due to the combination of aluminum and carbon fiber, the i3 is an eco-friendly electric vehicle for city driving that isn’t any heavier than a regular vehicle. comprising a synchronous electric motor with a single gear and utilizing a 94Ah lithium-ion high-voltage battery It has 170 horsepower, enabling a 0-62 mph time of 7.3 seconds, but it also has a 186-mile range.
Eighty percent of all surfaces visible to front passengers on the i3 are constructed of recyclable or renewable materials, making it a showcase for environmentally friendly products. When it comes to resources, BMW I is also thinking along those lines; starting in 2021, its electric motors will utilize two-thirds less cobalt and no rare earths. One of the most popular high-end electric vehicles in Europe is the BMW i3.