This Is BMW I16, The Successor Of I8 Who Never Entered The Production Phase Due To The Pandemic

BMW i16 Concept. (Doc. Domagoj Dukec/Instagram)

JAKARTA - Shocking news came from the BMW car manufacturer. Domagoj Dukec, Head of BMW Design, expanded the concept of the i16 model that never entered the production version. This model is considered the successor to the i8 whose production was stopped in 2020.

Through his personal social media account, the designer spreads a picture of the i16 model that has a striking look, developed by the high performance division, M, after the success of the M1 iconic supercar in 1978.

Reporting from Autocar, Monday, February 12, this car has never been produced due to a cyclic change triggered by the pandemic in 2020, so the project had to be discontinued.

According to Dukec, BMW i16 features a classic style that highlights aspects of the future and takes inspiration from the M1 design created by the famous car designer, Giorgetto Guigiaro. The car features a charming silhouette in the front cabin, a ventilated back arch, and a lattice-shaped engine hood.

The i16 model is designed using the composite structure of i8 to cut development costs and improve feasibility as a production car. In addition, this supercar force car will still use the same plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system as its predecessor.

Thus, it is possible that i16 will adopt a 1.5 liter turbo 3-cylinder gasoline engine connected to an electric motor, producing up to 369 dk of power and capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/hour in 4.3 seconds.

Due to the PHEV system, this car has the ability to run with pure electric power, similar to electric cars (EVs). BMW i8 itself has a battery capable of providing a range of more than 48 km with just electric power.

Introduced in 2014, BMW i8 achieved success in the sports car segment by successfully selling 20,465 units. However, the production of this car had to be stopped in June 2020 to provide space for new vehicles, such as iX4, i4, and iX.

Currently, the M division has launched XM as the indirect successor to the M1. This car is one of the largest powered SUVs in its class with a V8 engine that produces 653 dk of power, combined with an electric motor.