According to Automobile Mag, the new “i8S” isn’t
just going to be a showpiece concept, BMW has plans to release a
full-fledged production model by 2017.
There are also reports that the i8S will feature
plenty of bespoke parts, including lots of carbon fiber and a chassis that uses
plenty of aluminum materials. The new i8S is also tipped to feature a more
comprehensively integrated architecture that could lead to a more aggressive
design than the current i8 and a stronger suspension setup that could
presumably handle the rigors of what could very well be a powerful hybrid
engine.
This car opens up a world of new possibilities for
BMW. For all of the things we love about the i8, it does have just 362
horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. There’s still a lot of room there for
improvement, something we’ll likely see with the I8S.
The Automobile Mag report goes on to indicate that
BMW is testing two drivetrains in the i8S. One is a twin-turbo, 2.0-liter
inline-four engine that produces 320 horsepower and an electric motor with 204
horses. The second drivetrain includes a 480-horse, 3.0-liter I-6 and a
109-horsepower electric motor. No matter which drivetrain BMW chooses for the
production model, the i8S will have more than 500 horses to play with.
Also included in the report is the claim that the
i8S will include a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission. The i8S is expected to
top out at 155 mph and sprint to 62 mph in just 3.5 seconds.
