CONFIRMED: BMW i8 Production To End In April

BMW has confirmed that the production of the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car will end in April. The car was produced for nearly 6 years and was intended as a Porsche 911 rival.

The discontinuation of the model comes as BMW plans to shift its focus to a line of bespoke electric cars that include the iX3 compact SUV, i4, and iNext SUV.

BMW does have a new sports car based on the Vision M Next concept that will arrive in the next half-decade. BMW didn’t confirm the exact date that the production of the i8 would end. It has said that UK customers who want a built-to-order car will need to place an order with the local dealer by the end of February.

The car hasn’t exactly been a big seller for BMW. Dealerships in the UK has been slashing prices on the i8 as production end nears. The BMW i8 is a mid-engine 2+2 that comes with a 1.5L turbo three-cylinder engine that runs on gas paired with a low-output electric motor.

Discussions are ongoing about the future of the i8 with some indication that the car could return as an all-electric rival to the Tesla Roadster. While that is a mystery, for now, word is that the car would aim to give a clear link between the BMW Formula E effort and the I division of cars. Many sports car fans are happy to see that the EV age hasn’t done away with performance cars. A link between Formula E efforts and the EV sports car would bring the “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” mantra to electric vehicles.

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Papi Mabele

Papi Mabele has a marketing background, he is a digital marketing expert with extensive experience in launching and building global brands in the emerging markets. Papi is also an avid tech writer, enthusiast and all round tech junkie. As a freelance writer and analyst he has been numerously published in Popular Mechanics (SA), GQ South Africa, Premier Magazine, Driven Magazine, Bloem News, Courant, The Weekly, Enthooze Magazine and PiE magazine amongst others.