German carmaker BMW is likely to revamp the BMW i8 and bring a number of improvements such as extra power, longer range, and more.
The BMW i8 first reached car showrooms in the UK in 2014. The existing version of the car packs in a plug-in hybrid system that consists of a turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor. The combined output of the engine is 362 horsepower.
However, an Autocar report suggests that the total output will get a boost by 60 horsepower in the revamped version, which will contain an upgraded battery pack. The upcoming BMW car may include a 10 kWh battery pack instead of a 7.1 kWh pack.
A new battery and a revised six-speed automatic transmission, which is estimated to get new software mapping, may improve the electric range and enable the car to reach from 0 to 62 miles per hour (or 100 kilometers per hours) in less than 4.4 seconds. The limited 155 miles (250 kilometers) per hour top speed is also expected to get a boost.
The facelifted BMW i8 is also estimated to get a few chassis modification with the developments used by the Formula E safety car. BMW has not confirmed any changes to the i8 but reports suggest that the car will have modified upper wishbones and mounting points. The car is also expected to offer 15mm (0.6 inch) lower ride height than the current version.
BMW is also said to be testing an inductive charging system, which may be available as an option in the next BMW i8.
"Drawing on wireless charging technology developed by Qualcomm, it uses resonant magnetic induction to transfer energy between a ground-based pad connected to the highvoltage electrical system and a collector fitted to the underside of the BMW," says Autocar.
The BMW i8 is expected to get light carbon-fiber wheels and aluminum spokes, reducing weight by about 25 percent in comparison to the wheels used in the current BMW i8.
The facelifted BMW i8 may launch with the company's i8 roadster, which the company's chairman has confirmed as the next model in BMW's "i" brand.
The revised BMW i8 is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2017. The overall improvements in the car are definitely exciting but car enthusiasts will have to wait until BMW officially confirms these tweaks.
Photo: Raphael Desrosiers | Flickr
