BMW i8 Might Get Turbocharged Four To Replace Current Three Cylinder
By Paulo Acoba
The BMW i8 might be getting a turbocharged four-cylinder in place of its current turbo three cylinder.
If the rumor mill is to be true according to Auto Express earlier today (June 11. 2015), BMW might be stuffing a turbocharged inline four cylinder into its BMW i8. This would boost total peak HP from an adequate 357 HP to a very generous 450 HP. That might not seem like a lot but keep in mind this supercar from the future only weighs 3,455 lbs, a lightweight by current automotive supercar standards.
When Car and Driver test drove the BMW i8 in its current guise, they managed a very competitive 0-60 MPH time of 3.6 seconds and a blast through the quarter mile in 12.1 seconds. Just on battery power alone the BMW i8 can scoot to 60 in just over nine seconds, making EV travel in the city and up to highway speeds very plausible. The only limiting factor they discovered where the skinny tires, which might be remedied with this hotter model.
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What solidifies these rumors just a bit is the fact that BMW will be celebrating its 100 year anniversary as a business later next year as it was “established as a business entity following a restructuring of the Rapp Motorenwerke aircraft manufacturing firm in 1917.” What better way to showcase the next 100 years of BMW then by unveiling a glimpse if what’s to come. According to AE, the engineers at BMW are really chomping at the bit to showcase what this carbon fiber chassis and plug-in hybrid can do. The underlying chassis is made entirely out of aluminium and the driver and passenger cell is comprised of a carbon fiber reinforced plastic mix making for one very rigid car with an low center of gravity thanks to its battery packs.