BMW reportedly celebrating centenary with super fast i8 codenamed M100, priced at 250,000$

Auto Bild is reporting BMW's highly anticipated centenary model will be a more hardcore i8 codenamed M100.

In the last few months there have been many rumors about a more hardcore i8 to serve as BMW's centenary celebration set for March 7, 2016. Now, Auto Bild says such a model is actually in the works and is known inside Bavaria as the "M100". It will be a "super fast" i8 of which only 100 units will be produced and delivered in 2017, with all carrying a starting price of more than €250,000.

The styling is described as being "more dynamic and more agile" wrapped up in a package estimated to weigh 1,600 kg (3,527 lbs) which would make it heavier than the 1,490 kg i8. The added bulk will come from a more powerful hardware setup which will enable the M100 to have a combined output of "well over" 500 HP (368 kW).

This will be possible by replacing the 131 HP electric motor with a beefier 204 HP version while the 231 HP three-cylinder 1.5-liter conventional engine will be replaced with a 286 HP four-cylinder 2.0-liter which together with the 27 HP integrated starter generator will take output to around 517 HP (380 kW). The upgraded internals will boost torque from 570 Nm (420 lb-ft) to an estimated 700 Nm (516 lb-ft).

While the BMW i8 needs 4.4 seconds to complete the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) run, the M100 will do the task in 3.5 seconds, with top speed likely to be limited to 155 mph (250 km/h).

BMW will allegedly commence deliveries of the model in September 2017 and the car will likely be called i8S or i8CS and could be the model to get the OLED technology promised by BMW to arrive "in the near future.". Auto Bild also mentions a two-seater M8 could also be in the works for a 2018 or 2019 release with 630 HP (463 kW) obtained from a twin-turbo six-cylinder engine working with a more powerful electric motor.