Second gen 2022 BMW i8 to get B48 2.0 four-cylinder and 201 horsepower electric motor?
The i8 is a flop. It does not seem to know what it wants to be. A sports car it is not due to the tiny three-cylinder 1.5 gasoline motor and it is not a full electric with quick off the line performance like a Tesla. It was an expensive technology exercise.
You can pick up used examples in the ~$60k range which is less than half the original MSRP. That does not indicate a highly desirable car.
BMW intends to rectify these mistakes with the second generation i8 due as a 2022 model. That is if Automobile magazine got their details correct.
The B48 2.0 four-cylinder motor would be tweaked to over 300 horsepower and paired with a 201 horsepower electric motor. With over 500 horsepower the i8 becomes attractive especially with all wheel drive and an even lighter curb weight.
BMW should have given the i8 a four-cylinder to begin with but at least they are learning from their mistakes.
An M version of the i8 is what we all really want but this is a step in the right direction.
Source
