In a big fundamental change for the upcoming BMW i8, the future BMW halo car will be powered by a gasoline engine instead of diesel. It was previously intended to be powered by a 161-horsepower 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbo DIESEL engine mated with a hybrid synchronous motor on the front axle (80HP) and full electric motor on the rear axle (51HP), to give a combined 292HP. The diesel motor will now be replaced by a traditional gasoline engine.

According to R&D chief Klaus Draeger (via Autocar), the i8 will instead be petrol (gasoline) powered in order appeal to the widest potential market. Says Draeger - the change is being made "as we want to sell it all over the world. Diesel is only really relevant to Europe”.

The i8 (along with the i3) were announced as the first models to be produced under the new BMW sub-brand "i" earlier this week. Both cars will be built at the Leipzig Plant. The i3 launches in 2013, the i8 shortly after.
Price : 242.000 USD.

BMW i8 during winter testing has managed to make their way to the net courtesy of YouTube. The clips appeared after our spy photographers have managed to lay eyes on green supercar romp in the snow. The clips give us a good idea of what it will consider moving i8. We're still not quite fond of roof and side mirrors i8 see driving on ice and snow did nothing to influence our opinion. We can not help thinking that the pieces look like ears of the hippopotamus.

It is impossible to say whether the mule seen running through the snow is equipped with small displacement diesel engine of the concept, or if this machine has a gasoline engine turbocharged four-cylinder is rumored to debuting the production version. Anyway, the clips are worth a look. Hit the jump to see the next flagship of BMW in the action itself.