BMW is actively considering introducing a flagship super-sports car to its line-up. The McLaren 570S-baiting package would bring together the brand’s advancements in electrification, light-weighting and new materials.
The i8 is currently BMW’s principal electrified sports car, with the new 8 Series becoming the more traditional flagship GT. Autocar understands a direct replacement for the i8 is unlikely, although BMW has yet to confirm this publicly.
A new super-sports car would take inspiration from the i8 and could serve as an indirect replacement. However, it would have a higher price point and more power and sit at the top of the M performance division's line-up.
Klaus Fröhlich, the BMW board member responsible for product development, hinted that the super-sports car is in the works. “If you are an engineer, once in your life, you want to make a super-sports car,” Fröhlich told Autocar. “I think partial electrification will enable that.
“If we have these very compact and very powerful electric driving units, if we have a carbonfibre chassis – for example, the i8’s – and if we still have high-performance engines, then, if you do it cleverly, you can combine them into a real performance package.”
He continued: “If you look at the supercars – the McLarens, the Ferraris – beyond 2020, they will be all partially electric. And if you look at power plug-in hybrids we are planning for today, an electric motor in our PHEVs has a little bit more than 99bhp and 184lb ft of torque.”
Join the debate
Add your comment
A new BMW sports car will be
I won't be losing sleep over another anachronistic, heavy sports car, thanks.
Take on what???
Please tell me where mr Froelich targeted McLaren as a reference point. He just said that supercar market from 2020 onwards it will become more and more electric.
I am pretty sure that BMW is not targeting such a tiny and basically irrelevant company, let alone the Autocars of this world.
Talking about proper sportscars, we need to refer to brand, history and heritage. Something McLaren is currently lacking.
Our Bavarian friends will be targeting their neighbours from Stuttgart, I reckon.
PS I am glad to see that there's still optimism on Brexit. Good luck, and good night.
RednBlue wrote:
Targetting Stuttgart? Well hopefully you are right and that means a range of sports cars not just a silly figured supercar. Maybe the i8 can get a direct replacement?
Autocar seem indifferent
Autocar seem indifferent/almost pleased by this thing indirectly replacing the i8.
More expensive, faster, whatever. I find this strange and sad.
Having said that, why would residuals be poor for the i8 if anyone actually wanted fast hybrid cars in the first place?