[orion1977]

Will BMW abandoned and cancel the car?

Will it return in all electric mode?

Or will it stay in its current iteration, but with more improvements?

[orion1977]

Biggest block votes cancellation of production.

Here's an interesting article on that sheds some light on the i8's future: https://driving.ca/bmw/i8/auto-news/...ild-a-supercar

[evanevery]

The i8 has always been mostly a rolling concept vehicle. It doesn't really excel at anything (except maybe its looks). Its not terribly fast, its not terribly efficient, it doesn't handle particularly great, its not really a compelling EV, its not even terribly practical. (Yet, somehow I still bought one...) :-)

Once BMW gets their feet under them with mainstream, practical EV's, I expect the i8 will go away. (The i3 ISNT one of these) Lots of manufacturers are delivering EV's with 250+ miles of range (or are about to...). Jaguar, Audi, Benz, and BMW are committed to joining the likes of Tesla.

Once a bunch of mainstream auto mfr's join the EV market with really compelling models and options (INHO: 250+ miles range being critical), then we'll see more of them start adding performance oriented options and models.

None of this favors the i8.

Once people realize that EV's are best used within a viable daily driving range, and that they don't need/want a public charging infrastructure if they can charge overnight in their own garage, that will effectively be critical mass for the species.

The acceleration of EV sales is not stopping. Tesla has broken some crazy sales records each of the last two months with the Model 3. With Audi, Benz, and BMW gearing up to enter the market very soon that will solidify the option of buying a really viable EV in the very near term.

Unfortunately for the i8, as EV's become more-and-more viable (Long Range), middle-ground hybrids will be going the way of the dinosaur. Especially as performance oriented model options become available. Maybe the i8 will become some sort of a collector's item (like the Isetta).

Tesla Roadster anyone?

[JasH]

Originally Posted by evanevery

Maybe the i8 will become some sort of a collector's item

I am certain it will..... but will take at least 15 years before that happens.

BMW have made too many for it to happen sooner.

[orion1977]

Originally Posted by evanevery

The i8 has always been mostly a rolling concept vehicle. It doesn't really excel at anything (except maybe its looks). Its not terribly fast, its not terribly efficient, it doesn't handle particularly great, its not really a compelling EV, its not even terribly practical. (Yet, somehow I still bought one...) :-)

Can’t this be said of most grand-tourers? With the exception that the i8 is still better looking and much more efficient than most grand tourers?

Nevertheless, I’m still taken back and completely surprised by the poll results. I know you’re not, but I am.

[evanevery]

Originally Posted by orion1977

Can’t this be said of most grand-tourers? With the exception that the i8 is still better looking and much more efficient than most grand tourers?

Nevertheless, I’m still taken back and completely surprised by the poll results. I know you’re not, but I am.

No, I don't think so. Grand Tourers are generally not so close to "concept" vehicles as the i8 was/is. Lots of mfrs make large Grand Touring vehicles which are mainstream designs...

Yup, not surprised at the poll at all... One of the reasons I wanted to grab an i8 before they were gone. The availability of a Roadster was the tipping point (to replace my summer M6 vert toy). I would never have bought this car as a mainstream vehicle - just for fun. I've always liked "strange" cars. My favorite had to be my first car - a VW Thing! (The die was cast!)

[jcpca356]

I'm waiting for i8 to become like what my Type R for sure is going to become. A collector's item.

[evanevery]

Originally Posted by jcpca356

I'm waiting for i8 to become like what my Type R for sure is going to become. A collector's item.

Its surely unique enough...

[orion1977]

Interesting. It’s nearly dead even as to whether the i8 will continue or not. As for those who say it will continue, it’s dead even again as to whether it goes full electric or remains hybrid.

[jcpca356]

US sales are about 50/month. Dismal at best.

[sppr]

I think that they will go full electric soon, cause their sales are not doing that well on the current version.

[evanevery]

The chassis of the i8 is not designed to go full electric... No where to put a decent size battery pack (without totally messing up the balance of the car).

[JasH]

That is not an issue, as any new version would start with a 100% new chassis. The LCI is done and dusted, for what miniscule changes it made.

[evanevery]

Originally Posted by JasH

That is not an issue, as any new version would start with a 100% new chassis. The LCI is done and dusted, for what miniscule changes it made.

100% new chassis? Ok, then your talking about an i8 in name only....

[Big boi m5]

Sadly news this week was that BMW would NOT be joining the WEC GTP-H 'hypercar' program.

Rumors were abound that many at BMW corporate wanted to jump in with an i8 M hypercar and prototype.

Sadly BMW is currently in a cautious phase.

They are attempting to appeal to new buyers while simultaneously preparing the company to be able to pivot from electric to diesel to petrol to small car to crossover at a whim depending on how gas prices, German politics (Green party now threatening the CDU), and market trends go.

We have this big fat bloaty tech mobiles coming from BMW, but that's because they need them to be able to do EVERYTHING so they don't get caught like GM manufacturing Hummers and Escalades when gas prices/politics demand i3s and 2002s.

I'm speculating as the hyper car regs seem to be turning off all the big manufacturers. Perhaps a DPi sized budget would have caused BMW to pull the trigger.

Sad though. I think we won't know a final answer until IMSA states what it intends to do after DPi is finished in a few years. WEC hypercar May be dead in the water if only Toyota wants in with a few privateers.

A cheap series to show off an upgraded hybrid GT3 is what BMW wants at 8 mill a year. Not 40 million a year for a prototype.

In the very least that means i8 will join the Z8 and M1 as Rare and valuable and cool...and dead.

[JasH]

There are "competitors" making the kind of car that the i8 replacement should have been:


https://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/s...ght=alfa+romeo

[fbuzila]

Originally Posted by JasH

There are "competitors" making the kind of car that the i8 replacement should have been:


https://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/s...ght=alfa+romeo

that will be a great supercar, but double price
my guy at the dealership told me yesterday that BMW will replace replace the engine with a V6 on the next i8 model...not sure if this is really true, rumors or his dreams, but that would be cool...

[JasH]

No "guy" at any dealership knows anything. Only a few people in Germany will know.

There was a prototype 2-3 years ago, with a 4 or 6 cylinder engine (I can't recall). But that was never developed. Whether they start again is another matter, but it would be a new platform/chassis.

But yes, if we want top performance, that will cost £££.

[orion1977]

"BMW to make next-generation i8 as striking as its predecessor. The successor to the BMW i8 has already been approved and in works at the BMW HQ in Munich"

https://www.bmwblog.com/2019/05/07/b...s-predecessor/

[Mr Squarekins]

Reading about the progress made on the new i4, the i8 will most likely become a full electric car in it's next generation, parallel / overlapping with the petrol 8 series. The 8 series will then die and i8 will probably just become 8.

5 years?

[Mr Squarekins]

Either way, My i8 will have done 100k miles in the next three years and be history. Seems a shame that they will be just a brief flicker in car history.

[JasH]

Per the article:

4 cylinder hybrid. - I had hoped for a V6

Not an evolution of current i8. - as I stated

New name. - no surprise

Not arriving any time soon - no surprise (so it should be significantly different and better.)