I8 Spyder Concept Revealed

BMW has revealed its third Project i Concept car, the i8 Spyder. While it certainly bears a passing resemblance to the previously seen i8 Concept Coupé this machine is a two-seater only and could pave the way for a real high performance range-topper.
For the time being though it’s all about the plug-in hybrid so the i8 Spyder combines an electric motor, a turbocharged petrol engine and lithium ion battery technology. It pushes out some impressive numbers, too. The three-cylinder TwinPower turbo engine develops 223hp and 221lb ft of torque while the electric motor brings an additional 131hp and 184lb ft of torque for combined figures of 354hp and 406lb ft, good enough to haul the i8 Spyder’s 1630kg from 0-62mph in 5.0 seconds on its way to an electronically limited maximum of 155mph. It has plenty of mid-ran ge grunt too, completing the 50-75mph dash in just 4.0 seconds – that’s faster than an E92 M3 and a scant 0.3 seconds slower than the mighty F10 M5. The icing on the cake though is a combined economy of a staggering 94mpg – a figure an M car could only dream of.
The electric motor gets its energy from the car’s lithium ion batteries and can be fully charged via a domestic plug socket in under two hours. The Spyder has a range of 19 miles running on electric power alone, while a high voltage generator hooked up to the combustion engine can generate additional power if needed and store it in the battery. Due to the arrangement of the power sources (with the electric motor driving the front wheels and the rear mounted petrol engine driving the rear wheels), the Spyder can run in front-wheel, rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, the vehicle’s electronics deciding on the optimum configuration depending on the situation.
The i8 Spyder also uses the latest in ConnectedDrive technology to make the most of the car’s advanced features. There’s a camera-based proactive collision warning feature, park assistant and traffic jam assistant too. By using a smart phone the driver can show nearby charging stations, allow the batteries to be charged at pre-determined times and stay informed of the vehicle’s status. Even the interior can be pre-warmed on a cold morning.
Not only does the extensive connectivity of the i8 Concept Spyder allow the driver to integrate the car fully into their life, it also enables the car to assist the driver in a proactive way. For example, the vehicle’s power electronics are linked to the intelligent navigation and traffic guidance systems. If a jam is detected ahead the hybrid system will charge the battery in advance, thereby allowing the car to run in pure electric mode while stuck in traffic, to the benefit of fuel consumption and emissions reduction.
There’s no word yet on whether the i8 Spyder will reach production in a sanitized form, but given BMW’s promise to bring both the Coupé version of the i8 and the i3 to market we wouldn’t want to bet against the Sypder hitting the streets in 2015. If a higher-powered petrol engine could be fitted we’d have a real Supercar on our hands.