[clbmw]

Erm the 3 litre with 480BHP obviously..! That would combine with the better electric motor to over 600BHP which is more like supercar territory

[mu2002cs]

I agree. While I wish for a successor for the M1, I too would like to see another Z4M that sells in the $60-80k range. My Z4M is an incredible car on the track. Probably BMW's best "out of the box" track car made. Its a little rough for commuting, but very comfortable for long trips.

I doubt if the i Brand and the M brand will ever cross. Two different products. However, the i8 platform certainly can be leveraged for the next BMW supercar, which I hope is badged the M1.

[clbmw]

Also I recall reading a few days ago Porsche is upping the Carrera to 400BHP and the Carrera S to 500BHP... The i8 and this new model will have some very tough competition at a lower price if this is true.

[VMRWheels]

Interesting, pretty exciting too. Holding my judgement til we see a finished product, I'm sure it will be EPIC

[YungDro]

Originally Posted by Boss330

According to this interview with ///M boss Nitschke, we will never see a ///M version of the i8:

http://f10.m5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1049659

hopefully one day we will see their own supercar.

[Tallest]

Originally Posted by jnkirk1974

I wouldn't call it an M8,unless they made it handle like an M car. Right now, it just isn't worthy, in my opinion.

I think the i8 is very interesting, but I think an M8 should be preserved for something that will truly take on the supercars of the world, in every category.

yeah it also sounds like Mate, a funny name for a halo sports car.. or clever.

[Wolf]

I think it is gonna be a disappointing project for enthusiasts and a great project for marketing

[monkawekrue]

it would be nice to see BMW make a super car that can compete with the higher end models of other brands. I am just excited to see it overall.

[MilehighM3]

Originally Posted by Rich@GTBPerformance

There was only ever one M vehicle to use an automatic transmission : The E36 M3 (SMG/DCT notwithstanding).

You're forgetting about the X5M/X6M

[IS3andME]

Originally Posted by Rich@GTBPerformance

Which is why Nitschke is retiring. The guy still has years left in him and tons of vision so it might be because he is feeling internal pressure to fall in line with AMG and Audi S with their AWD lineups, which is something I don't get the impression he would respond well to. It will be interesting to see what direction ///M GmbH heads under Van Meel who was kicked to the curb by Quattro for not getting the R8 E-Tron on the road.

I think the problem with the idea of an M8 based upon the i8 platform is that the two vehicles are at odds with each other from an philosophical standpoint (Driveline, driving dynamics, ect). There was only ever one M vehicle to use an automatic transmission : The E36 M3 (SMG/DCT notwithstanding). ///M Would have to find a way to integrate a DCT transmission at the very least to even consider bringing the i8 in house for development. However, the fact that Van Meel was in charge of the R8 E-Tron might mean that could be in the pipeline... and sooner than we think.

The problem is that there is the i brand and M brand. And as the interview said, that they are two book ends. So, you don't have a hipo variant of the i8, developed under a man from Ferrari competing against, in terms of performance against the M brand. Specifically, when M wants to do their own stand alone model like SLS/GT, R8. It makes the M brand look like it is being overlooked. Especially when the i8S will be a two seater. The only true 2 seater M production cars were the Z3 M Coupe and Roadster, and Z4Ms.
When it comes to performance, the M brand should always get first dibs, or at least should have input.
Because if they do not, it sets up a mindset of "we don't need you" and thus two competing factions within BMW.

[clbmw]

Wouldn't it make sense to make both a 4 and 6 pot version, then that would spread a range of i8 to i8S/i9 comparably to 911 Carrera right through to Turbo S:

i8 equiv Carrera
i8S 4 pot equiv Carrera S
i9/i8M 6 pot equiv Turbo S

In regards to an M car, hasn't M's brief always been to produce red hot versions of BMW's standard cars? Also I know we keep hearing the bookend metaphor, but that is a state introduced by BMW, there is no reason why M and i could not work together on the very top end BMW other than they come from philosophically different stances. We've had conservatives governing in coalition with liberal democrats here in the UK, and some would say they've managed that reasonably well considering the diametrically opposing positions they take on some issues. If they can do it I'm sure i and M can.

[ericsi]

by the time this super-i8 comes out, rest assured that Porsche and Audi will have somthing available too which may well surpass bmw products.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by ericsi

by the time this super-i8 comes out, rest assured that Porsche and Audi will have somthing available too which may well surpass bmw products.

As will Acura. It's a constant leapfrog battle.

[clbmw]

Originally Posted by StuM

As will Acura. It's a constant leapfrog battle.

Well BMW only have to look at the M4 racing project video on Laguna Seca a couple of news articles up to see how much faster a McLaren is... And that's what they need to beat IMO, that would put them ahead of other German manufacturers for quite some time...