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      02-08-2017, 05:10 PM   #1
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2018 BMW i8 Facelift (LCI)

Interesting article:

It’s hard to believe that’s been three years since the BMW i8 hit the market, but the progressive hybrid sportscar is already due for a refresh next year. In Spring 2018, the high-end super hybrid will reach with a few technology upgrades and refreshed design cues. Our sources say that the facelifted i8 might actually be sold under a different badge – the BMW i8 S.

The facelifted i8 will get an upgraded petrol-electric powertrain currently being tested in a fleet of prototypes as well as the latest iteration of the i8-based safety car seen at Formula E events around the globe.

The new i8 will produce an additional 15 horsepower, therefore, the powerful electric motor in combination with the 1.5 liter three-cylinder petrol unit will produce 372 horsepower. From 0 to 62 mph, the current i8 runs in 4.4 seconds, but with the updated powertrain the facelited i8 is likely to be faster.

At the same time, BMW is working to extend the overall range of the i8 through the adoption of a revised battery pack. The new i3 received a 50 percent boost in range, so we expect a reasonable increase for the i8 as well. BMW has confirmed that the Formula E safety car eschews the 7.1kWh unit of the production car for a larger, 10.0kWh battery, possibly hinting at what’s to come for the facelifted version.

Just like the Formula E safety car, the facelifted i8 is also in line to receive a number of chassis modifications. The two i8 safety cars at Formula E events have modified upper wishbones and mounting points, together with revised spring and dampers, a 15mm lower ride height than the production car and 20in alloy wheels shod with 245/35 front and 285/30 rear Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.

We expect BMW to show the updated i8 before the end of 2017.
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      02-08-2017, 05:43 PM   #2
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Not sure why we need the link AND the re-type.

Anyway, 15 hp is next to nothing and will probably be eaten up by the wider tires. Same goes for the larger battery pack, although I would love a bit more range. And full electric at last up to 130 km/h (the "recommended" speed for German highways), rather than the embarrassing 120.

Overall, all this hardly seems to be worth the "S" designation. Anyway, isn't "S" more Audi and Porsche territory? Why is BMW now picking up that language as well?
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      02-08-2017, 06:20 PM   #3
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It has to be more than that why would BMW even waste their time
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      02-08-2017, 08:03 PM   #4
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Last paragraph is kind of confusing. It says the i8 will receive chassis modifications, but then lists the safety car specs. I was kind of surprised at first that they would drop it 15mm AND put lower profile tires, but it seems like that part is just irrelevant.
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      02-08-2017, 10:30 PM   #5
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I put the link and pasted it for people's convenience...it took me less time to paste the text than it did for you to write a complaint about me doing so.

I'm wondering how accurate this all is as a new i8 owner....def seems like an evolutionary LCI- the norm for BMW.
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      02-08-2017, 10:59 PM   #6
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      02-09-2017, 02:10 AM   #7
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Sorry Skinrock. I was actually referring to Aye-eight's above comment about the link and retype- not yours.

I totally agree about that last paragraph. I'm also interested in what type of cosmetic changes the exterior will have and if they will change the screen size.
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      02-09-2017, 02:21 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cbarago View Post
Sorry Skinrock. I was actually referring to Aye-eight's above comment about the link and retype- not yours.

I totally agree about that last paragraph. I'm also interested in what type of cosmetic changes the exterior will have and if they will change the screen size.
Oops...yea I misread.

I'm wondering if they may change the stance with the new wheel specs. It's 1.5 years out, but I wouldn't mind keeping the wheels I have.
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      02-09-2017, 03:09 PM   #9
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Exactly since changing the stance is usually more than LCI level right?

Also, I wonder if carbon fiber wheel rumor has any merit (not from this article) and what style they will use on the LCI car. The current turbine and W spoke are both pretty cool.
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      02-09-2017, 09:51 PM   #10
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If the carbon fibre wheels are offered, I expect them to be an option in the $8k range.
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      02-10-2017, 06:10 PM   #11
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How much are carbon fiber wheels for the i8 likely to weigh?

Last edited by SlipperyGary; 02-10-2017 at 08:29 PM.. Reason: typo
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      02-10-2017, 07:51 PM   #12
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I was hoping for a 600hp Spider. But of course if that happened they wouldn't be leasing in the ~$1k range!
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      02-12-2017, 02:20 AM   #13
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I heard that dingy 15 HP too , I agree , wider tires might make power increase just null and non existent its like one tries to lose weight yet devours Burger King Menu with chicken tenders and picks up Diet Cola or Pepsi Zero Sugar thinking he/she would keep his/her diet thanks to latter choice
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      02-12-2017, 12:46 PM   #14
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But wider tyres on CF wheels could easily be lighter. Even if there is no net gain to bhp/ton, the increased grip of wider rubber is hugely beneficial.

The i8 needs more grip before it needs more grunt IMO. And bigger brakes. ....and a RPM gauge we can see!
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      02-12-2017, 03:46 PM   #15
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Forget the 15hp, what I really want to know is if the next gen will be getting the 8 speed zf transmission. Our tranny sucks horrible balls, and if any of you ever drove even a 328i with the 8 speed you know it is no joke. It would probably result in our cars accelerating so much quicker than it already does, and I would be so pissed off we didn't get it...
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      02-12-2017, 03:51 PM   #16
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Brakes and tranny and you'll have a follow-up owner. Don't much care about wheels as I would likely swap them anyways.
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      02-12-2017, 04:31 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skinrock View Post
Brakes and tranny and you'll have a follow-up owner. Don't much care about wheels as I would likely swap them anyways.

Exactly, brakes of course and tranny above all and it's a done deal. Thing will be a completely different car. I used to own a 08 335i, first time I drove a 328i with the new tranny it was night and day, even with two cylinders less it I'm quite sure it was much quicker other than maybe at high speeds, if at that.
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      02-12-2017, 11:47 PM   #18
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What do you guys find so bad with the gearbox?
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      02-13-2017, 02:15 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveB_UK View Post
What do you guys find so bad with the gearbox?
I find it pretty good most of the times. It's when you start pushing on that you could get faster changes. It does not hold onto gears at high rpm.
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      02-13-2017, 02:45 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ericsi View Post
I find it pretty good most of the times. It's when you start pushing on that you could get faster changes. It does not hold onto gears at high rpm.
Exactly, when pushed to the limit our tranny's are slow to upshift, (respond ridiculously slow if shifting manually) don't hold revs at all, the transmission compared to the 8 speed or dct just sucks. Not sure why they went with it, but it's the only bmw that uses this particular transmission and it was first introduced in 2003 in a Saab 9-3.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/AWTF-80_SC
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      02-13-2017, 02:51 AM   #21
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Here's an old article I found comparing the old ZF6 speed to the 8 speed:

All new BMW 5 Series models will feature an 8-speed automatic transmission, which brings smooth shifting, sportiness and efficiency to new levels of perfection. Compared to the exemplary 6-speed automatic offered in past BMW models, the 8-speed’s “taller” cruising gears make a significant contribution to reduced fuel consumption and emissions, as well as quietness. And its wider spread of ratios from lowest to highest gear enhances acceleration and response across the range of driving speeds.
Technically speaking, this new automatic’s attributes have been achieved via an innovative concept that provides the two additional ratios (7 and 8) with no increase in bulk or weight. In an arrangement not heretofore employed in an 8-speed automatic, four planetary gearsets and five clutch packs are controlled in a way that no more than two of the five clutch packs are freewheeling at any given time. The modest increase in the number of mechanical elements allows the new transmission to achieve unusually high efficiency: the so-called “gearing efficiency” is higher than 98% in all eight gears. In 6th gear, it’s highest of all because that is direct drive, with no gearing reduction at all. Combine this with reduced friction and the ability to keep the torque converter “locked up” more of the total driving time, and the transmission becomes very much a part of the new 5 Series’ overall efficiency concept.
Two additional gears mean threefold progress: quicker shifts, greater smoothness, enhanced efficiency.
The wider spread of ratios allows the engine to run at lower speeds, mainly in the “tallest” gear, 8th. Yet even with this wider spread, the steps between adjacent gears are reduced; in turn this means a stronger, smoother flow of power during acceleration.
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      02-13-2017, 10:15 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveB_UK View Post
What do you guys find so bad with the gearbox?
Well coming from a DCT M transmission its a night and day..
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