In a big fundamental change for the upcoming BMW i8, the future BMW halo car will be powered by a gasoline engine instead of diesel. It was previously intended to be powered by a 161-horsepower 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbo DIESEL engine mated with a hybrid synchronous motor on the front axle (80HP) and full electric motor on the rear axle (51HP), to give a combined 292HP. The diesel motor will now be replaced by a traditional gasoline engine.
According to R&D chief Klaus Draeger (via
Autocar), the i8 will instead be petrol (gasoline) powered in order appeal to the widest potential market. Says Draeger - the change is being made "as we want to sell it all over the world. Diesel is only really relevant to Europe”.
The i8 (along with the i3) were announced as the first models to be produced under the
new BMW sub-brand "i" earlier this week. Both cars will be built at the Leipzig Plant. The i3 launches in 2013, the i8 shortly after.