BMW i8 with 500+ horsepower in the cards?
 

<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-994225"><img alt="2015 BMW i8" data-credit="BMW" data-mep="520843" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/59b4942e54d14bfa38c67ab87 3b05ea4/200963696/2015-bmw-i8-6-1.jpg" /></a><br />
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While <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/">BMW</a> makes plenty of machinery to keep enthusiasts interested, its most enticing models are often based on more ordinary ones. That's what made the arrival of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/i8/">i8</a> so captivating, emerging as the first stand-alone BMW sports coupe since the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/bmw+m1/">M1</a>. But if its dual purpose - trying its best to both embrace the earth and traverse it rapidly - somehow left you disappointed, the next development could prove to fix that.<br />
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<a href="http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1410-deep-dive-bmw-readies-hotter-i8/">According to <em>Automobile</em></a>, BMW is working on a more potent i8S model. The hardcore version of the hybrid sports car would offer more power and a stiffened chassis to make it that much more aggressive. The Bavarian automaker is reportedly still evaluating two potential powertrain options: The first would pair a 2.0-liter twin-turbo four-cylinder good for 320 horsepower to an electric motor with another 204 hp.<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/07/28/bmw-i9-100th-anniversary-i8-report/"> The second would use a 3.0-liter straight six</a> with 480 hp and an electric motor with 109 hp. Both would be mated to a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission and an integrated starter motor packing an extra 27 hp.<br />
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Either way, we'd be looking at a combined output well in excess of 500 horsepower - far more than the existing i8's 228-hp turbo three and 129-hp electric motor - dropping the 0-62 time down from 4.1 seconds to an estimated 3.5. Couple that to a more advanced carbon chassis, wider tires and other goodies, and the i8 would be transformed into a far more capable performance machine than it already is.<br />
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<em>Automobile</em> says the project is <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/15/bmw-m-and-i-not-mix/">not being undertaken by the M division</a> but by the i brand that developed the i8 in the first place - including new program director Roberto Fedeli who <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/10/08/bmw-hires-ferrari-chief-engineer-fedeli/">came over from Ferrari</a>. Its arrival would be timed to coincide with BMW's centenary celebrations in 2016.<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/10/22/bmw-i8-500-hp-i8s-mooted/">BMW i8 with 500+ horsepower in the cards?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Wed, 22 Oct 2014 15:30:00 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/2014/10/22/bmw-i8-500-hp-i8s-mooted/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20982351/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/10/22/bmw-i8-500-hp-i8s-mooted/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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