BMW i8 to be Powered by Gasoline, not Diesel Afterall

[moody320d]

Can't they just have two engines? one diesel and one petrol, whatever floats your boat you can buy that one! but i also agree its a shame throwing the diesel engine away! they have great torque and fuel consumption is much lower than a petrol car.

[MCMLXXXIX]

bad move BMW. there goes BMW i

[akhter]

Originally Posted by E39hijinks

I like how all of you are sitting behind a computer screen giving orders to BMW headquarters on how to market and produce their cars. Stunning!

lol couldn't agree more.

bunch of jokers without a clue in automotive marketing with strong opinions about a car they can't afford.

its not just about US either. people in asia (india/china/japan) will also prefer a petrol model. these guys are paying 100% tax on the car and don't give a cr4p about mileage.

i am sure the diesel one will follow after the petrol version.

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by akhter

lol couldn't agree more.

bunch of jokers without a clue in automotive marketing with strong opinions about a car they can't afford.

its not just about US either. people in asia (india/china/japan) will also prefer a petrol model. these guys are paying 100% tax on the car and don't give a cr4p about mileage.

i am sure the diesel one will follow after the petrol version.

you are wrong. people do give a crap about mileage - it is a status symbol now, people will love going around telling everyone their 200k BMW beats the prius in MPG and the M3 in 0-60. Take away the fuel efficiency and this car is nothing but a fancy paint job on an M3 - not worth 200K anymore, back to 100K value.

[Eddy@ApexRaceParts]

well that sucks, car lost my interest, and I was honestly interested

[wilstave]

Originally Posted by IancoleTX

Great, now just take out the hybrid system and you've got a properly interesting car.

lol agreed

[671rover]

Originally Posted by O-cha

Why, diesel engines can go toe to toe with gasoline engines in power and response now, BMW has several in Europe, but because of people like you they have to "appeal to a wide market" or not in code "The Americans have to buy them for it to be successful, and they know nothing about diesel".

+1

[Greenkirby21]

i'm confused. Wasn't the whole point of this car because it would be a super car and get very good gas mileage at the same time. Doesn't removing this diesel engine go against that?

[Chips335d]

So BMW is finally marketing the diesels in the US (Super Bowl Ad) and the 335d and X5d are finally catching up in terms of vastly improved sales and word of mouth. Everyone I know wants a F10 535d, and after bragging relentlessly that the "i8" will be the halo BMW diesel of the future, they drop it....WTF?

What's next? No F30 335d, let me guess, we'll get a hybrid.

BMW is losing it...

[bdardashti]

Originally Posted by Chips335d

What's next? No F30 335d, let me guess, we'll get a hybrid.

Haha we will get a hybrid.

To those saying it doesn't make sense that a bunch of forum posters are advising BMW product management and marketing, I couldn't agree more, even though I was one of the first people to show my disappointment in this move.

But think about this. Why does one spend north of $100,000 on a car?

• Super luxury (ie. RR, Bentley, etc)
• Super car (ie. Ferrari, Lambo, etc) or at least close to it (Audi R8)
• Some sort of unique proposition (ie. electric powered, etc)

The BMW VED was of the last category. It would have M3 power with less than 4L per 100km fuel consumption. The only car that comes close to efficiency that in BMW's current lineup is the 320d ED Edition, which takes nearly 2x in its sprint to 60 mph. Put that unique blend of power and efficiency together, bundled with super car or futuristic design, and very good handling, and you have something that could sell for over $100,000.

I'm not saying going petrol is a bad business move, but it does get rid of some of the uniqueness, because consumption will go up. That's all.

[sk8board511]

I partially agree with the switch from diesel to gas. Around here its slim to none to find a station with diesel. I think the best thing would be to have both options like someone said before and when you order the car you can choose what you want. Either way the i series will still be a great series

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by numba1guju

imma say around the 100k mark

LOL. If only.

Originally Posted by E39hijinks

I like how all of you are sitting behind a computer screen giving orders to BMW headquarters on how to market and produce their cars. Stunning!

Right? Of course, all these people know far better than BMW's entire marketing team. Man, shame on BMW for making stupid uninformed business choices.

Originally Posted by JoeyFiasco

come on guys. if you can afford this car, i am sure you are not worried about fuel costs. the point of the concept was to develop BMW's efficiency technology initiatives and PR. the idea of the production car, is to make money for BMW.

+1 on both of those points. Nobody will care. This kind of car won't need great fuel efficiency to sell. If it's relatively economical compared to its competition then it'll be fine.

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

you are wrong. people do give a crap about mileage - it is a status symbol now, people will love going around telling everyone their 200k BMW beats the prius in MPG and the M3 in 0-60. Take away the fuel efficiency and this car is nothing but a fancy paint job on an M3 - not worth 200K anymore, back to 100K value.

No, that's just stupid.

[skiernan36]

i hope they just get rid of this car altogether

[aaron529]

i prefer torque over horsepower so i would much rather a diesel. It would of made more sense to use a diesel motor in combination with the electric motor to make it more fuel efficient. Isnt that what they were going for? Why else would they use an electric motor?

[V_therussian]

Pussy move, BMW...

[marcel b]

Originally Posted by Cornhusker

It could be pretty amazing if it's still super light and they use the new 245hp (or better) 2.0L turbo in combo with the electric for 320+ hp.... MPG could still be 50+, right?

As they planned to put in a 3 Cyl Diesel, I expect them to use a 3 Cyl Petrol Turbo in the same power range. BMW is developing these to succeed the 4 Cylinder non-turbo engine (x16i / x18i / x20i) up to 170hp.
With this they can still be fuel economic and as in general a petrol has lower emissions then a diesel (if both have the same MPG) it still can be good.

VW proves that with a 1.2 TFSI petrol or 1.4 TFSI petrol great fuel economies can be achieved.

[ron_jeremy]

Originally Posted by IancoleTX

Great, now just take out the hybrid system and you've got a properly interesting car.

The word is, it's going to be a M version as well, likely putting the F10 M5 in the dust behind it imo.
Let's see what happens.
Love the design of this car, BMW needs a super car.

[Ultimas]

I wanted the diesel

[moody320d]

Originally Posted by akhter

lol couldn't agree more.

bunch of jokers without a clue in automotive marketing with strong opinions about a car they can't afford.

its not just about US either. people in asia (india/china/japan) will also prefer a petrol model. these guys are paying 100% tax on the car and don't give a cr4p about mileage.

i am sure the diesel one will follow after the petrol version.

lol i disagree with both of you, we are not sitting behind computers bashing BMW we are just saying it would have been a great idea if they kept the diesel engine.

I agree also that the majority would have enjoyed the petrol but thats only because not enough people have been exposed to the modern diesel engine. Once you are its hard to go back.

better idea would have been if both petrol & diesel would have come out.

but i agree with most people here, the whole concept of this car was it to be a super car that was "eco" lol, we aint talking about not being able to afford the tax or petrol, we are talking about the concept behind this whole project.

[fwmcb]

Originally Posted by maswastage

WTF? Who says diesel is only relevant in Europe? What's so relevant about automatically losing about 50% of the car's fuel efficiency by switching to gasoline? So much for making a radical hyper efficient sports car. Now it's just another useless gasoline hybrid like all the others.

It's a sports car, I wouldn't want anything else in it. Now a 4 door sedan I'd prefer diesel.

[Wolf]

idk what's all the fuzz about? its a 1.5 diesel engine vs possibly 1.4 gasoline engine... both have high mpg and both are crappy 3 cylinder engines! I was in charge I'd stick a big V8 in the back and take on Ferrari with it.

[footie]

Originally Posted by maswastage

WTF? Who says diesel is only relevant in Europe? What's so relevant about automatically losing about 50% of the car's fuel efficiency by switching to gasoline? So much for making a radical hyper efficient sports car. Now it's just another useless gasoline hybrid like all the others.

BMW are very smart here, the switch to petrol will improve it's appeal in the one country which will really buy into this car which is America. On a side note, what is to stop them offering both engine designs?