Breaking Reports Indicate the BMW i8 Spyder is Headed Toward Production!

When one first sees the BMW i8, the initial reaction is to be in awe of the raw and pure energy that seems to course through its lines, however that surge of emotion is quickly overtaken by an intellectual appreciation of the advanced technology that defines its essence.  A hybrid-electric vehicle, the i8 is more than just a sports car, although, with a combined 362 hp, 420 lb-ft of torque, and top speed of 155 mph, the concept it was developed from easily keeps pace with the more brutish cars in its class.  It’s really almost a messenger from the future, a taste of what a car can be… and should be.

Fortunately for drivers, that future will be arriving shortly, as according to the German publication Handelsblatt, BMW CEO Harald Krüger has authorized production of the stunning — and innovative — BMW i8 Spyder that premiered as a concept in 2012.  Though details on the production version are still top secret, it is widely believed that the version of the i8 Spyder that will surge into the market in the upcoming model year will feature the same revolutionary architecture and powertrain as the concept.

While some changes to the i8 Spyder’s body sculpting are expected, as, for instance, the  raked rear windshield may be replaced with a surface that features more 3d modeling and a flat deck, the overall appearance of the production model is likely to stay close to the impressive concept.  The distinctive multi-layered, yet functional, front bumper that grins beneath the i8’s blue-accented split kidney grille is expected to be retained, as is the semi-transparent bonnet that reveals tantalizing views of the two-seater’s electric motor.

Given that they were hinged to the A-pillar on the earlier i8 concept, it’s also expected that the type’s graceful scissor doors will make their way to thei8 Spyder, while the top will be, in true fashion for the genre, fully removable.

When performing a walk-around to the rear of the BMW i8 concept, it’s clear that artistic consistency has been maintained throughout, from one angle to the next, as the entire rear assembly reflects the complex layering seen around the fascia.  Just as the presence of the electric motor is revealed by the semi-transparent bonnet, so too does the rearward design reflect, though carefully crafted exhausts, that it houses an athletic gas-piston engine.

Perhaps more impressive than the aesthetics of the projected BMW i8 Spyder is the engineering that makes it possible, as all exterior panels are made from carbon fiber-reinforced-polymer.  A new composite that is being manufactured on an industrial scale specifically for BMW’s i-family of automobiles, CFRP is strong and weighs less than conventional steel or aluminum panels.  The chassis in the i8 Spyder will also be made of composites and high-strength aluminum.  When looked at as a whole, this means that the i8 and i8 Spyder will have more in common, structurally, with advanced spacecraft than most of the other high performance automobiles on the road.

Ultimately, the heart of every automobile is its powertrain, and the system that is expected to define the BMW i8 Spyder is no less futuristic than the body that envelops it.  Consisting of a 231 hp, 3-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo 1.5L range extender gas engine toward the rear, a 98 kW/131 hp electric motor that’s connected to the front axle, and what is likely to at least be a 7.1 kWh Lithium-Ion battery, the overall system turns out a combined 362 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque that can propel the i8 from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and to an electronically-controlled top speed of 155 mph.

More impressive than this level of clean power, however, is the range it’s paired with, as the i8 and i8 Spyder are expected to attain a 95 mile per gallon equivalent (MPGe) fuel economy and have a total range of 310 miles, with up to 372 possible when the batteries are fully charged and the Driving Experience Control Switch is set to ECO PRO mode.

While the exact starting MSRP for the BMW i8 Spyder has yet to be determined, interested parties should contact BMW of Elmhurst at (844) 671-0006 for more information about availability and features.  Located at 466 West Lake Street in Elmhurst, we’re also an ideal stop for any Chicagoland driver who is interested in the 2016 BMW model lineup.  While the i8 Coupe and i8 Spyder are breathtaking in terms of both appearance and technology, all of automobiles we sell reflect BMW’s commitment to creating the ultimate driving machines.