Production of the BMW i8 will reportedly end in April this year as the company looks to focus on more mainstream electrified models, including the iX3 crossover, i4 fastback and iNext crossover.
BMW i8 production to end in April – report
A company spokesperson has confirmed the impending demise of the i8 with Autocar.
Reports indicate the i8 will be replaced within the next five or so years by a production version of the M Next concept.
Launched globally in 2013, the i8 drew its design 2009 Vision EfficientDynamics. While the concept car was a turbo-diesel plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the production i8 had a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine mated to an electric motor.
Together they made a total of 266kW and 570Nm. With a 7.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the i8 had a pure electric driving range of 37km under the NEDC standard.
In 2018 the electric motor gained a few extra kilowatts, bumping total output to 275kW, while the larger 11.6kWh lithium-ion battery improve the car’s EV range to 55km.
If news about the i8 proves to be true, it will make the i8 Roadster a short-lived model. Although a concept version debuted back in 2012, it wasn’t until 2018 the convertible went into production.
Thanks to its folding soft-top, the Roadster is a two-seat only proposition.
