The new 2014 BMW i8 has just made its official debut, but sources close to the brand indicate that a second i8 model will follow next year. The BMW i8 Spyder was also previewed in concept form back in 2012 and the 2 seater, open top variant seems to have more curb appeal. Among the most eye-catching features of the BMW i8 Concept Spyder are the upward-swivelling, windowless doors.
The i8 Spyder uses the same LifeDrive architecture as the i8, a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) Life module that gives the car an extremely lightweight passenger cell, while the Drive modules – made primarily from aluminum components – bring together all the car’s operational driving functions, such as the powertrain, chassis and safety structure.
It uses the same hybrid setup as the “regular” i8: a 1.5 liter three-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology is combined with an electric drive system and a lithium-ion battery which can be recharged at a standard household power socket. The 231 hp (170 kW) gasoline engine sends its power to the rear wheels, while the 131 hp (96 kW) electric motor powers the front wheels.
Weighing just 3,600 lbs, the i8 Spyder runs to 100 km/h (62 mph) in five seconds and has a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). The fuel consumption is rated at 3 liter per 100 km or 78 MPG.
With the i8 costing around $135,000, the BMW i8 Spyder will most likely be priced near the $150,000 mark.
Here are some renderings of the BMW i8 Spyder.