BMW M might have chosen the bulky XM SUV as their ultimate flagship, but a few years ago there was a proper low-slung sportscar under development. The BMW I16 was revealed on social media by design boss Domagoj Dukec, as the successor of the i8 that came very close to becoming reality but was ultimately cancelled, likely due to the Covid pandemic.
The designer published a few sketches and photorealistic renderings of the sportscar which looks like a combination of BMW i8 proportions with toned-down styling cues borrowed from the 2019 BMW Vision M Next concept – including the flashy two-tone livery.
Overall, the I16 was envisioned as a modern reinterpretation of the classic BMW M1, and would serve as a halo model for the Bavarian automaker.
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Domagoj Dukec / Instagram
At the front, the aggressive headlights are significantly larger compared to the futuristic show car, while the sculpted kidney grille is flanked by additional intakes. The greenhouse and butterfly doors appear to be carried over from the i8, although the flying buttresses of the latter are replaced by high-mounted side inlets.
The rear end is heavily inspired by the concept with slim taillights, M1-inspired BMW emblems, and a triple rear windshield resembling a vented engine cover.
Dukec said that the development of the I16 was completed in less than 12 months, including the finished exterior and interior. This was achieved by using the carbon monocoque chassis of the BMW i8, something that is evident from the mid-engined proportions and the shared hardpoints.
The designer didn’t get into specifics about the powertrain of the now-canceled model. However, according to reports from 2020, the I16 would retain the plug-in hybrid nature of its predecessor, albeit with significant improvements in power and range. More specifically, the PHEV was rumored to offer a combined output of around 600 hp (447 kW / 608 PS) from a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and electric motors. As for the EV-only range, it would be more than 60 miles (96 km) between charges.
Ultimately, the BMW i8 went out of production in 2020 without a successor, as the automaker decided to pull the plug on the I16 project. Dukec hinted that the pandemic might have played a role in the demise of the sportscar: “While we pushed, the world changed in 2020. And so, work on the project unfortunately had to be stopped”. Despite the cancelation, Dukec remains optimistic about the future, saying that “there’s always a new project waiting around the corner…”.
On a final note, while we’re sad that the I16 didn’t make it, we’re happy to see automakers sharing sketches and photos of their canceled projects, rather than keeping them confidential.
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