BMW i8 Roadster, improved i3 & Hybrid MINI OFFICIAL

[nggallery id=2238 template=customlinks]

The BMW i8 Roadster is confirmed for production, the BM i3 will get a longer range and there’s a hybrid MINI on the way, confirm BMW.

We’ve expected the BMW i8 Spyder to arrive as a production model ever since BMW showed it as a concept 4 year ago, and despite a new take on the i8 Roadster making an appearance at CES earlier this year, it seemed BMW were in no hurry to confirm it as a production model. But now they are.

The BMW i8 Roadster (the ‘Spyder’ bit seems to have gone out of the window) will arrive by 2018 as a production model, and although BMW aren’t revealing details we can be fairly sure it will use the same 1.5 litre petrol engine and electric motor to deliver 367bhp when it arrives as the coupe.

The BMW i3 is also in for changes, with both the pure EV i3 and range-extender set to get a bit of a titivate and an increase in range of up to 50 per cent. There will also be a plug-in hybrid version of the MINI.

Under the banner of ‘BMW iNEXT’, BMW is also planning what they’re calling a revolutionary i model that will raise mobility with new forms of automated driving and connectivity with trailblazing design and lightweight construction.

But it’s not just EVs and plug-ins BMW are focussing on, with confirmation that they’re continuing to develop hydrogen fuel cell technology, and believe hydrogen fuel cell cars will co-exist with batter electric vehicles in the future.