It’s been a while since I admittedly got all tingly about a car that doesn’t even exist yet, but BMW->ke178 seems to have done the trick with this “hotter i8” report. Automobile Mag is reporting that BMW’s 100th anniversary in 2016 will coincide with the launch of green supercar->ke177 that currently carries the codename “M100”. The codename is merely temporary, as it’s reportedly set to be called the BMW i8S.

According to Automobile Mag, the new “i8S” isn’t just going to be a showpiece concept; rather, BMW has plans to release a full-fledged production model by 2017.

Project i team leader Ulrich Kranz is spearheading the project under the leadership of Roberto Fedeli, BMW’s program director who recently traded in his technical director job at Ferrari->ke252 for BMW. Fedeli’s involvement is particularly interesting because of his expertise in lightweight construction materials and hybrid powertrains, two critical ingredients of the Ferrari LaFerrari.->ke4626

There are also reports that the i8S will feature plenty of bespoke parts, including lots of carbon fiber and a chassis that uses plenty of aluminum materials. The new i8S is also tipped to feature a more comprehensively integrated architecture that could lead to a more aggressive design than the current i8 and a stronger suspension setup that could presumably handle the rigors of what could very well be a powerful hybrid->ke147 engine.

This car opens up a world of new possibilities for BMW. For all of the things we love about the i8, it does have just 362 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. There's still a lot of room there for improvement, something we'll likely see with the I8S.

The Automobile Mag report goes on to indicate that BMW is testing two drivetrains in the i8S. One is a twin-turbo, 2.0-liter inline-four engine that produces 320 horsepower and an electric motor with 204 horses. The second drivetrain includes a 480-horse, 3.0-liter I-6 and a 109-horsepower electric motor. No matter which drivetrain BMW chooses for the production model, the i8S will have more than 500 horses to play with.

Also included in the report is the claim that the i8S will include a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The i8S is expected to top out at 155 mph and sprint to 62 mph in just 3.5 seconds.

Automobile Mag

Note: Standard BMW i8 pictured here.

2017 BMW i8S

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2017 BMW i8S
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Competitors

Porsche 911 Hybrid

We have conflicting reports on the 911 Hybrid, as Porsche CEO Andres Muller was quoted by Car Advice hinting at the possibility of seeing a Porsche 911 Hybrid real soon, possibly as soon as 2018. But just recently, another Porsche executive said it will likely be "within 15 years" but not within the 991 generation and the next generation. Regardless of its arrival, the rumored 700-horsepower potential of the 911 Hybrid certainly would give it a leg up on the i8s.

BMW i8

The BMW i8 represents a lot of things for BMW, not the least of which is its capability in the field of hybrid technology. The production-version of the i8 showed us the strides BMW has made in that field, which is why its world debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show was a long time in the making.

Before that, though, the i8 was initially introduced through a series of concept models on top of making a special cameo in Mission Possible: Ghost Protocol.

Since its introduction, the i8 has become a popular model for BMW customers, thanks in large part to its cutting-edge design and modern technology. A big part of that is its hybrid powertrain, which combines a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine and an electric motor, producing a total output of 362 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. That sets the i8 up well to hit 60 mph in 4.2 seconds to go with a top speed of 155 mph.

The i8 is priced from $135,925 in the US market.