The BMW i8, with its iconic design, is a truly revolutionary vehicle.
Sadly, though, the futuristic supercar is no longer in production.
However, it transpires there once was a successor – a secret supercar of sorts – to the i8 in the pipeline, according to a BMW boss.
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BMW design boss Domagoj Dukec revealed sketches of the BMW i16 via social media.
The sketches of the ‘secret supercar’ point towards a car that carried the i8’s gorgeous lines with a bit of the equally delectable Vision M Next concept car revealed in 2019, thrown in for good measure.
“This is another good kept secret: the i16,” Dukec posted. “Developed as a successor for the BMW i8, this is a project I was involved in personally.
“The i16 had all the style of a future classic, but there were still novel touches that moved the design forward from the M1.
“Within less than 12 months the car was ready – inside and out. The key was to use the composite structure of the BMW i8. If you look closely, you will find a few clues!”
You’ve certainly got our attention, Mr Dukec.
Unveiled back in 2019, the BMW Vision M Next gave us a glimpse into what we can expect from BMW for the next 10 years.
Merging the i8’s exotic construction, philosophy and full-fat power, the Vision M Next was slated to go into production within a few years.
It deployed a turbocharged four-cylinder mounted in the middle, allied to a pair of electric motors good for 600 horsepower.
According to the German automaker, in EV mode alone, the Vision M Next had more power than the i8 did in total.
Sadly, the events of the past few years nixed its future.
“History was not to be made,” Dukec said in his post. “While we pushed, the world changed in 2020. And so, work on the project unfortunately had to be stopped.
“But that’s how life goes sometimes. As designers, we are familiar with the many twists and turns of such projects. Nevertheless, we’ll never stop dreaming and exploring new possibilities, and there’s always a new project waiting around the corner,” he added.
Here’s to hoping BMW resurrects the i16.
