YAHOO AUTOS
By Zach Doell
Rumors of a high-powered BMW supercar, slotted directly above the techy i8, have been floating around for a while now. However, we’ve yet to hear any conclusive evidence as to its arrival. For some Bimmer fans, that “maybe” just isn’t good enough.
3D design artist Carlos Aliaga Pastor is one such fan. For his master’s degree thesis project he took it upon himself to craft what he thinks a next-gen BMW supercar would look like. He built an actual model, named it the i9, and it’s quite the spectacle, wouldn’t you agree?
According to the project details, his proposed i9 pulls its design inspiration from nature, mainly almonds and hammerhead sharks – no, we’re not making that up. The car’s roofline has a distinctive almond-like appearance, and there’s no getting around the aggressive and streamline selachian body.
Up front, the i9′s snouted fascia supports a low-slung diffuser and suspended fender flares. Around back, pronounced air intakes grace its haunches, followed by a tucked and minimalist rear end. Inside, Aliaga’s designs call for an instrument panel and layout similar to the BMW i8.
It’s doubtful that a production BMW i9 would ever go to such extravagant lengths – we’re thinking BMW i8 meets BAC Mono – though it’s nice to see the boundaries being pushed.
Reports around the industry hint that a BMW i9 supercar is in fact in the works for 2016, with the UK’s Autocar recently suggesting that it will utilize the i8′s carbon fiber tub, equipped with a larger 3.0-liter engine and a more powerful electric motor. The current i8 summons 357 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque from its 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder and electric motor.
If the i9 does happen, expect it to have more – perhaps McLaren P1, Porsche 918, and Ferrari LaFerrari levels of more.
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