Revealed: BMW i16 supercar that never went into production

ABU DHABI: There has not been any car that can be called the BMW M1’s true replacement, but it appears that the German automaker had one in development – the i16. However, BMW decided to scrap the idea of a supercar and started focusing on the creation of the XM hybrid SUV. Recently, Domagoj Dukec, BMW’s design chief shared a photo on Instagram providing a rare glimpse into how the i16 could have appeared.

The BMW i16 was being produced as the i8 electric sports car’s successor and evolved from the 2019 Vision M Next show car, attracting the attention of BMW enthusiasts. With innovative design merged with classic elements, the i16 aimed to be better than the iconic M1. Despite the complete development of the i16 in less than 12 months, production plans were dropped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The BMW i8 was introduced in 2014 and it stood at the forefront of BMW's EV lineup until its discontinuation in 2020. This led to the development of new EVs like the i4, iX3 and iX. Throughout the production run of the i8, 165 units were sold at USD 148,495 (approximately AED 545,377.86). 

A plug-in hybrid system combined with an electric motor and a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine powered the BMW i8. It produced a total output of 356 bhp enabling the car to complete the century sprint in just 4.3 seconds.

While we’re sad that the BMW i16’s production was halted midway, we appreciate automakers sharing photos and sketches of their canceled projects rather than hiding them.

Also read: Mercedes-Benz and BMW collaborate to build a supercharging network in China