BMW Shows More Production-Ready i8 Concept Spyder

BMW says that the i8 Concept Spyder is the third i-series model that it has shown, but it appears that this car is really a much more production-ready version of the i8 concept that we have seen so many times before. The i8 is meant to be a sustainable sports car that is a plug-in hybrid with an internal combustion engine powering the rear wheels

The styling of the i8 Concept Spyder does away with the transparent doors of the previous i8 concepts and replaces them with upward-swinging, semi-gullwing doors with an open top. There are twin nacelles behind the occupants with a visible engine. From the front, it has a squashed version of the classic BMW kidney grill with sliced off, squinting, laser headlights. While it is not shown on this concept, BMW says that the production version will have a two-section folding roof. Like the other i-series models the passenger compartment of the i8 is made from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic to reduce weight, and the rest of the car is predominantly aluminum. 

At least for this concept, the interior of the i8 Concept Spyder has three, 3D LCD screens to display information to the driver. Two are located behind the steering wheel, and the third is in the middle on top of the dashboard. The displays behind the steering wheel show the car's speed, energy use, energy recuperation, range and navigation details. These displays change color from blue in Eco Pro mode to red in Sport mode to queue the driver into how they are using the batteries' power. The central display uses Idrive to display menus and navigation

There are electric motors in the front and rear axles, and the batteries are stored in what would usually be the transmission tunnel. A 131hp electric motor is located on the front axle powering the front wheels. While, a 223hp, turbocharged three-cylinder powers the rear wheels. Total engine output from the electric motors is 354hp and 550Nm.

BMW claims that the i8 Concept Spyder accelerates to 100km/h in five seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h. In the EU cycle it is rated at using 3l/100km of petrol (94mpg imperial). 

The lithium-ion can be charged from a residential outlet in one hour and 45 minutes. Total pure electric range is 30km. 

It seems like every major automaker is experimenting with how to create a sustainable sports car at the moment. In concept, the i8 is quite similar to the Infiniti Emerg-E, and the next Acura NSX does something similar with front-mounted electric motors and a rear-wheel drive engine. The high-end sports car market is going to be very interesting in the coming years to see if these cars are successful, and their concepts trickle down to more attainable cars. Or if this idea is not as good as the public is being sold, and in 20 years we will look back on these flood of hybrid sports cars and laugh.