The BMW i8 will receive a refresh by late 2017 that will likely include a better battery.
BMW recently added a new i3 variant for the 2017 model year that sports a larger battery, enabling it to travel up to 114 miles combined on a full charge, 33 miles more than the current model. The BMW i8 will also likely benefit from a better battery when it receives a mid-cycle refresh along with upgrades to its hybrid powertrain using the latest technology currently being tested on prototypes and the i8 safety car used at Formula E events. Currently, BMW is testing a 10-kWh battery in the Formula E safety car, which is a bit larger than the 7.1-kWh unit used in the current production model.
reports that the facelifted BMW i8 will also have a more powerful electric motor than the current unit, helping boost power by 10 percent bringing it to around 420 horsepower. It will also receive new software mapping for the six-speed automatic transmission to help enhance performance.
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Along with updates to its powertrain, the facelifted BMW i8 is expected to receive a number of chassis modifications. Although nothing has been confirmed, we can once again look at the BMW i8 safety car to see what the German automaker is testing, which includes modified upper wishbones and mounting points as well as revised springs and dampers. The updated suspension brings the i8 lower to the ground while the 20-inch wheels on the safety car are paired to 245/35/20 (front) and 285/30/20 (rear) Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.
Future BMW i8 buyers will also benefit from an available inductive charging system that uses resonant magnetic induction to transfer energy between a ground-based pad connected to the high-voltage electrical system and a collector fitted to the underside of the BMW i8.
[Source: Autocar]
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