Exclusive BMW Sports Coupe Catch: Will the next i8 be driving here? Or maybe a Rimac M sports car?

Here’s what we know: it’s definitely a BMW model – the camouflage foil and surroundings tell the tale – and it’s also confirmed that the captured model is a pure electric vehicle.

Optical system

Essentially, the captured Elkönig gives a lot of clues: the coupe shape is clearly visible, with flared front wheel arches, a contoured flat bonnet and a flat windshield. The overhangs are short and the window line rises dynamically. The prototype shows frameless windows, small exterior mirrors arranged in window triangles and a more camouflaged rear section. The roof line is very flat, with a large glass roof probably mounted under the camouflage, ending in a striking spoiler lip with a continuous light strip and an expressive rear end. Overall, the model seems to be highly aerodynamically optimized.

The cooling air openings in the sills in front of the rear wheels, the low seating position of the test driver and the clearly visible wheel hub motors on all four wheels are striking. The front is also noteworthy with its slimmer headlight units, C-shaped bars and illuminated kidney grille. This design currently does not fit perfectly with the front end of the new class learning.

But which model is that?

1. Looking at the latest BMW Concept Skytop study, at least the area behind the seats and the rear end look similar. The BMW Targa will be launched on the market as a small series. The study was equipped with a powerful V8 engine. Probability: 0 percent
2. Talk of a performance model with a wheel hub motor immediately brings back memories of the first prototypes of the upcoming BMW M3. Given its delicate appearance and the relatively small wheel hub motor, this 1,360 horsepower model is probably also ruled out. Such performance cannot be achieved with a small wheel hub motor, whose maximum rotation speed is limited by the wheel speed. Probability: 0 percent
3. The compact design also suggests that the Elkönig is the first prototype for a BMW M2 successor. However, there are no signs that the BMW 2 Series will join the new class at the moment. The design of the prototype also seems too advanced. Chance: 1%

So are we looking at a new BMW sports car in the style of the i8 for the first time, or a standalone sports car from M GmbH?

In retrospect, the i8 was not just a pure sports car as a technology carrier for BMW: as a study of Vision Efficient Dynamics, it already featured the energy-saving technology of the same name, notably featuring a low drag coefficient of 0.22 (series: 0.26) and a plug-in hybrid drive train with three-cylinder engines and lightweight components.

With the BMW M Next in 2019 and the subsequent Vision M Next, the Munich-based company gave a preview of the brand’s upcoming sports cars. Almost reminiscent of the M1 and i8. In 2020 BMW stopped developing this model. Nevertheless, the captured Erkönig evokes a bit of memory of these studies. The Vision M Next is 1.28 meters tall (1.6 centimeters flatter than the i8) and 2.01 meters wide, so 7.1 centimeters wider than the i8. With an overall length of 4.58 meters, the concept car is 10.7 centimeters shorter than the hybrid coupe. Despite a slightly longer wheelbase (2.82 meters instead of 2.80 meters), the concept car only has two seats. In the M Next, two electric motors per axle provide propulsion, but BMW has not mentioned series production.

Battery pack in the back?

The low seating position for passengers and the air inlets in the elkönig sill suggest that the entire battery pack is mounted at the rear of the vehicle. The new circular cell module that BMW is planning for the new Class is likely to be used here. Unlike the previous prismatic cells, in the new Class they are integrated into the floor of the vehicle without modules, using a method BMW calls “cell to open body”. The cylindrical cells allow for higher energy density, faster charging speeds, longer range and lower costs. The new Class should have a range of more than 750 kilometers and a DC charging time (10-80%) of 22 minutes.

The new technology could also be used for wheel hub motors. Here, the collaboration with Deep Drive seems to play a role. BMW is involved with the Munich company, which developed a double rotor radial flux motor as a wheel hub motor. However, the RM1250 measures 19 inches and develops up to 171 horsepower and an astounding 1,250 Nm of torque, yet weighs just 32 kg. The wheel hub motors visible at Erlkönig look rather small. Moreover, Deep Drive officials say that the development stage is not yet ready to incorporate the technology into the prototype.

What we talk about i8

Indeed, expressive design, lightweight construction, aerodynamics and other technological innovations. In addition, BMW plans to include high-end models such as the i7 or i8 in the new class nomenclature in the future. The relatively small wheel hub motors oppose this. Probability: 48%

A quintessential M sports car

A pure M sports car model has been rumored for some time, also fuelled by the M Next studies. A standalone model based on the internal nomenclature ZA would also be a polarising design. The changes to the New Class Architecture, with four-wheel hub motors like the electric M3, also speak in favour of M models. The engine size is also an argument against here. Probability: 50%

Features of the sports car developed in collaboration with Rimac

The Croatian manufacturer of luxury electric sports cars recently announced a collaboration with BMW. A production facility has already been built on the Rimac campus. The focus is on battery technology and drive technology. There is no further information on the joint project, only that the “New Class Architecture” will not be affected by the collaboration. BMW has already announced a new era for its M models with ultimate electric performance. And perhaps the Erkönig is the first precursor of a true super sports car from the Munich-based company, possibly in collaboration with M GmbH. Probability: 50%.

These new class models are coming

BMW plans to initially bring to market six models between 2025 and 2028 based on its purely electric vehicle platform “BMW NA” (New Architecture or New Class).

• Electric versions of the BMW i3 (NA0, from 2026) and i3 Touring (NA1, from 2027) 3 Series sedan or station wagon, both of which will roll off the assembly line in Munich and then probably also be produced in China and Mexico.
• BMW iX3 (NA5, from end of 2025) It will be the successor to the X3 and will be a coupe version of the SUV (NA7, from 2026), which will later be known as the iX4.

More Models

• The BMW NB5 is the successor to the current iX1.
• The BMW i1 (NB1) is an electric version of the 1 Series (front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive top-of-the-line model).
• The BMW i2 (NB2) is the successor to the first-generation i3 (the top-of-the-line all-wheel drive model, except for front-wheel drive).

BMW’s internal naming convention is as follows:

• NA stands for rear-wheel drive models such as the i3, i4, iX3 and iX4.
• NB characterizes small front-wheel drive models such as the i1, i2 and iX1.
• The ND represents high-end models such as the i7, iX7, and potentially the i8.
• NE classifies Mini models and, where applicable, Alpina cars.
• ZA stands for M GmbH’s performance models, such as the electric M3 (ZA0), M3 Touring (ZA1), iX3 M (ZA5) and iX4 NM (ZA7).