[MrBreezenovel]

Interesting the direction this thread went to. I think the word supercar is thrown around a bit too much. To me a supercar is the car you want but they will not sell you, unless you are invited to buy one. But to some a super car is the car they always wanted, which is a fine definition to me. I find the i8 much more comfortable than the 4C, or my 997, or RF or the Evora 400. In fact it is the most comfortable summer car I own. It is not in my opinion a super car, it is a special car though that has limited appeal. I like that and since I never lease anything I will keep mine, just keep adding to the family until I run out of garage space. I already did the whole Ferrari, Lamborghini (even sent Lamborghini the specs in 04 to make a RWD Gallardo) thing, great cars but not unless they are being driven at 7/10's or over. Other than that they do not feel any more special than my Miata. Which is why I do not own them anymore (though I am thinking about tracking down my gearshift 430 and trying to buy it back). Algar has one of the new cars I spec'd out almost 14 years ago for sale again (gearshift 360 spider), nice to see it is still worth that much.

[ericsi]

I have seen somwhere 420bhp for the new car.

[Jo-Sta07]

Originally Posted by ericsi

I have seen somwhere 420bhp for the new car.

420 would be enough but just.

[JasH]

We signed an NDA so are not allowed to talk about it (whatever "it" is ). I did speak at great length (nearly 2 hours) with the very top i division people, and they were pretty open with info though. Surprisingly so in fact.

During the formal presentation itself they gave very little away though.

About the 8 series question, they said 2018.

[drlonline]

Originally Posted by JasH

We signed an NDA so are not allowed to talk about it (whatever "it" is ). I did speak at great length (nearly 2 hours) with the very top i division people, and they were pretty open with info though. Surprisingly so in fact.

During the formal presentation itself they gave very little away though.

About the 8 series question, they said 2018.

JasH, thanks for the reply, even though you're not allowed to share anything. One question you probably can reply to: do you think the i8 community will be pretty pleased with the 2018 LCI refresh of the coupe (as well as the roadster) in terms of things we'd like to see changed?

Also, regarding the 8 series, was 2018 when the production car will be revealed or when it will be available for sale? (BTW, thanks for asking for me).

[JasH]

Originally Posted by drlonline

JasH, thanks for the reply, even though you're not allowed to share anything. One question you probably can reply to: do you think the i8 community will be pretty pleased with the 2018 LCI refresh of the coupe (as well as the roadster) in terms of things we'd like to see changed?

We can talk openly after whatever it is is public. Soon

I did not discuss the 2018 Coupe refresh specifically, but it was perfectly logical in the context of the discussion to assume that it would match what we saw.

There is good stuff, and bad. See my "flaws on i8 thread". i Division are aware of all those items and some are fixed. I know which ones. Top i Division guys were in fact fully familiar with in depth details of the feedback I had given at PI Dartmoor. That impressed me a lot.

I cannot say more yet, sorry.

Originally Posted by drlonline

Also, regarding the 8 series, was 2018 when the production car will be revealed or when it will be available for sale? (BTW, thanks for asking for me).

2018 was the reveal. Bear in mind though that these were i Division, and may not have accurate details.

After all, regarding what we saw there, almost no one outside a small group at i Division had seen it. Not even BMW's Board of Directors yet.

Seriously impressed that they showed us.

[drlonline]

Originally Posted by JasH

We can talk openly after whatever it is is public. Soon

I did not discuss the 2018 Coupe refresh specifically, but it was perfectly logical in the context of the discussion to assume that it would match what we saw.

There is good stuff, and bad. See my "flaws on i8 thread". i Division are aware of all those items and some are fixed. I know which ones. Top i Division guys were in fact fully familiar with in depth details of the feedback I had given at PI Dartmoor. That impressed me a lot.

I cannot say more yet, sorry.

Well you certainly have piqued our curiosity. Look forward to hearing more once "it" is revealed.

[fishpond]

In addition I had a couple of long chats with the engineering and product folks about the coupe refresh and also the i3 refresh/sport. Lots of very interesting data points, but as Jas says we are bound by the NDA :-(.

[rainman54]

Originally Posted by fishpond

In addition I had a couple of long chats with the engineering and product folks about the coupe refresh and also the i3 refresh/sport. Lots of very interesting data points, but as Jas says we are bound by the NDA :-(.

Any idea when this info will be made public?

[JasH]

Originally Posted by rainman54

Any idea when this info will be made public?

BMW's Board of Directors are seeing the car 1 week from now, so I guess there will be a press release and public showing shortly following that.

It truly was a special exclusive private showing. That surprised me, as I expected it to be hyperbole, and at best a quick look from a distance.

The only restriction was we could not sit in it, as the Board had to see it unmarked, and it was the only pre-production prototype....of "whatever it was"

[fishpond]

Originally Posted by rainman54

Any idea when this info will be made public?

BMW told me that the current plans were for the official launch to be in November - so we were quite privileged to have had such early access.

[drlonline]

Originally Posted by fishpond

BMW told me that the current plans were for the official launch to be in November - so we were quite privileged to have had such early access.

You and JasH seem to have come to different conclusions as to when "it" will be revealed. Perhaps November is the launch for sale date, vs. an earlier date for the reveal. I had been expecting to see it as part of the Frankfurt auto show in September. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[MalibuBimmer]

The press release will probably be at least 30,000 words long. So I hope you post back here and tell us what's changed to spare us from reading BMW's War & Peace.

[JasH]

Originally Posted by drlonline

You and JasH seem to have come to different conclusions as to when "it" will be revealed. Perhaps November is the launch for sale date, vs. an earlier date for the reveal.

I think we are on the same page actually, and what you say above sounds about right. To be clear, they did not state when it would be publicly revealed. It was inferred from the comments about the BMW Board seeing it 2 weeks after us.

[fishpond]

Originally Posted by drlonline

You and JasH seem to have come to different conclusions as to when "it" will be revealed. Perhaps November is the launch for sale date, vs. an earlier date for the reveal. I had been expecting to see it as part of the Frankfurt auto show in September. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I explicitly asked whether it would be revealed at the Frankfurt motor show and the response at that time was no. Rather it would be formally announced in November. This may of course change but that was the position last week...

[fishpond]

Originally Posted by JasH

I think we are on the same page actually, and what you say above sounds about right. To be clear, they did not state when it would be publicly revealed. It was inferred from the comments about the BMW Board seeing it 2 weeks after us.

Agreed, the board are set to see this within the next couple of weeks (from what they indicated). They didn't publicly state any formal public announcement date but upon asking them explicitly, the indications were Nov.

[drlonline]

Originally Posted by fishpond

Agreed, the board are set to see this within the next couple of weeks (from what they indicated). They didn't publicly state any formal public announcement date but upon asking them explicitly, the indications were Nov.

Wow, if they don't show "it" (got to be the Roadster) at the Frankfurt show it sounds like it may be a pretty boring show from BMW.

[fishpond]

Originally Posted by drlonline

Wow, if they don't show "it" (got to be the Roadster) at the Frankfurt show it sounds like it may be a pretty boring show from BMW.

I am sure they have other announcements planned - possibly even the i3 updates since production for the facelift will begin not too long after Frankfurt.

[stressdoc]

I still hold out hope for release of a Z2 M at some point -- 1000kg.

I do wonder where car manufacturers are headed with the prospect of shared autonomous vehicles looming on the horizon.

[JasH]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

I do wonder where car manufacturers are headed with the prospect of shared autonomous vehicles looming on the horizon.

This was talked about during the formal presentation. Again, can't comment specifically yet

[rainman54]

I'm still curious why they had chosen to wait 2 years to release the convertible? Typically they follow 1 year after when the market is still hot on the new release.

[gbelton]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

The press release will probably be at least 30,000 words long. So I hope you post back here and tell us what's changed to spare us from reading BMW's War & Peace.

The Roundel.