BMW planning six-cylinder i9 hybrid to celebrate centenary?
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hybrids/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2015-bmw-i8/#photo-994226"><img alt="2015 BMW i8" data-credit="BMW" data-mep="369317" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/1c68aeb24eae79dc912a4b92d 48a216b/200486925/2015-bmw-i8-7-1.jpg" /></a><br />
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On the prospect of a new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/bmw+m1/">BMW M1</a> based on the company's new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/i8/">i8</a> hybrid, the jury has been in and out so much that we can't even tell which way it's likely to go. However, the latest reports coming in from Germany suggest that BMW may have something else up its sleeves. Rather than make a conventional gas-powered version of the i8, Germany's <em>Auto Motor und Sport </em>says <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/">BMW</a> will make a more powerful one.<br />
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Tentatively dubbed i9, the hybrid sports car is rumored to pack a six-cylinder internal-combustion engine instead of the i8's turbo three. Coupled to more potent electric motors, it would figure to produce even more than the 357 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque already on tap in the i8, with further weight reductions to offset the bulkier engine.<br />
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<em>Auto Motor und Sport</em> says the mooted model will be produced to celebrate the Bavarian automaker's 100th anniversary and eclipse the i8's performance, with a projected 0-60 run in under four seconds en-route to taking the gloves off to crunch the Autobahn in electric bliss. The new i flagship would be another member of the company's growing electrified family, joining the existing <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/i3/">i3 hatchback</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/bmw+i5/">upcoming i5 minivan</a> and possible i8 Spyder down the line.<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/07/28/bmw-i9-100th-anniversary-i8-report/">BMW planning six-cylinder i9 hybrid to celebrate centenary?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Mon, 28 Jul 2014 16:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="/rss-term-of-use/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/07/28/bmw-i9-100th-anniversary-i8-report/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20937518/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/07/28/bmw-i9-100th-anniversary-i8-report/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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