Article: Manhart Racing previews their i8 coupe tuning program with lowered i8 on 21 inch rims and different color trim

[Sticky]

The i8 may not be the most powerful $135,000+ sports car out there but it may be the best looking. German tuner Manhart-Racing intends to get their hands on the i8 and the first modifications will of course be cosmetic. Here's a little preview of a BMW i8 lowered on 21 inch forged Manhart rims along with yellow trim (Manhart seems to have gotten their inspiration from Vorsteiner). The brake calipers are also rendered in yellow in order to match the sideskirts, kidney grilles, and mirrors.

Ok, the car looks great. We all understand that part. The question is, what tuner is actually going to tackle what is under the hood? Everyone will have plenty of rim and lowering options available for the car. Who is actually going to give this thing the balls a car approaching $150k should have? How about some more power out of that 1.5 liter turbo 3-cylinder and some more juice to the electric motor?

Boost the car where it matters Manhart.

[M5 253]

My god. A 600-700 hp M8 based on that i8 chassis would be orgasmic.

[Sticky]

My god. A 600-700 hp M8 based on that i8 chassis would be orgasmic.

We should not have to talk BMW into an M version of this car. M should already be foaming at the lips to produce an i8 M.

[rawad1017]

man what an m8 would do the SLS' and R8s..

[UsualSuspect]

DAMN!

[bobS]

Now we're talking! That's how this car should look from the factory

[Sticky]

man what an m8 would do the SLS' and R8s..

Right?

Look BMW doesn't even need to get too crazy with it.

If they want to keep the hybrid setup, fine. But just give it a real motor in back. It doesn't even have to be the V8. It should be the V8 but it doesn't have to be.

More juice to the electric motor, a tweaked N20, and I'm cool with 500 horsepower.

[mjmarovi]

Agree Joe, but an S55 to compliment the electric motor wouldn't be disappointing. With around 600hp this car would compete with some of the worlds fastest in any performance category I would think. Hell if it matched the z07 on a track that would be good enough for me

[Sticky]

I think the inline-6 would pose packaging problems.

[1Zed4]

I think i remember BMW saying an M is out of the question b/c it defeats the purpose of what the i8 is supposed to be. . .

WTF man, how are they going to compete with the 918?!?!

[Sticky]

I think i remember BMW saying an M is out of the question b/c it defeats the purpose of what the i8 is supposed to be. . .

So the i8 is supposed to be all bark and no bite? Awesome.

WTF man, how are they going to compete with the 918?!?!

They'll never make anything on that level. They'd sooner make an M labeled vibrator. Fitting, as BMW is telling all their enthusiasts to $#@! themselves.

[1Zed4]

It MIGHT not be completely dead

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/bmw-says...203509221.html

[Sticky]

Yeah looks like an internal struggle.

It shouldn't even be a discussion.

[rawad1017]

what these dumbasses don't realize is that an M8 would be the ULTIMATE marketing tool. while almost everyone in the world knows what a BMW is, a supercar from BMW would definitely bring more potential customers in the lower models. non-m bmws are incredible daily drivers/mid-price cars

[Sticky]

what these dumbasses don't realize is that an M8 would be the ULTIMATE marketing tool. while almost everyone in the world knows what a BMW is, a supercar from BMW would definitely bring more potential customers in the lower models. non-m bmws are incredible daily drivers/mid-price cars

I think a high performance i8 M would definitely get them more attention and make more sense but what can you do?

[rawad1017]

get all of bimmerboost to hit up BMW AG and yell "MAKE AN M8" in german

[Sticky]

get all of bimmerboost to hit up BMW AG and yell "MAKE AN M8" in german

I'm down for this but it will just ended up being me by myself running into the offices wearing warpaint yelling make an M8 and getting arrested for being a terrorist or something.