2019 BMW i8 Coupe release date, news, features: Hybrid sports car graces 2018 Detroit Auto Show, with highlights on new battery build

BMW's Sports Activity Coupe sports carFacebook.com/BMW

According to the latest reports, the famous carmaker BMW has recently showcased its udpated i8 Coupe hybrid sport car at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show. The upcoming top-tier automobile highlights a more powerful battery pack compared to the model's previous iteration, as well as the new 20-inch wheels propel style.

As reported by Automobile Mag, BMW gave the participants of the 2018 Detroit Auto Show a glimpse of its hybrid sports car entry. The latest i8 Coupe update is revealed to include new battery packs with significant boost in power capacities. For one, the charge life of the battery pack is increased from 20 to 34 ampre hours.

Moreover, the energy cap of the BMW i8 Coupe hybrid also received an impressive upgrade, thanks to the new 11.6-kilowatt hour capacity of the car engine. With this, the electric motor of the first i8 Coupe was redesigned to meet the 184 pound-feet of torque output when the battery is at peak power.

The hybrid nature of the updated BMW i8 Coupe features an electric motor with internal combustion engine. This combo is composed of a twin-turbo and three-cylinder motor with 143 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, respectively. To note, the power coming from the three-cylinder engine is delivered to the rear portion. Meanwhile, the rear-wheel drive configuration is controlled by a six-speed automatic transmission setup. 

The 2019 BMW i8 Coupe is considered as the fixed-roof variant of the two-seater i8 Roadster, according to Edmunds. One of the similarities that the hybrid sports car shares with the original i8 Roadster is the set of power upgrades. The latest sports car model also features the Coupe badges at the exterior and a vent on the car hood. Perhaps the highlight in the updated 2019 BMW i8 Coupe is the refreshed 20-inch wheel. The sports car is constructed with carbon fiber material, and its doors acan be opened vertically.

First announced back in November 2017, the 2019 BMW i8 Coupe hybrid sports car is set to become available in auto shops sometime this Spring.