BMW i8 Spyder pops the top on future mobility

BMW i8 Spyder pops the top on future mobility - BMW i, the sub-brand within the BMW with his eye to the future of mobility, has unveiled its third concept, the i8 Spyder. Based on the i8 coupe that debuted last year in addition to the i3 city car, the i8 Spyder is also a clear follow-up, but also shows a few steps closer to the production of models which eventually will go on sale to the public.

Like the coupe, the i8 Spyder  is a plug-in through-the-road hybrid with a 96 kW (131 hp) electric motor powering the front axle and a center-mounted turbocharged three-cylinder gas engine (supposedly with a displacement 1.5 liter, as the coupe) producing 223 hp that powers the rear. A package of lithium-ion batteries are located in a center tunnel between the two power sources, with total system output of 354 hp and 405 lb-ft of producing torque. On electricity alone, the i8 Spyder travel about 19 miles off the gas engine turns on to recharge the batteries. BMW says the system is good for 94 miles per Imperial gallon on the cycle, which converts upwards of 78 miles per gallon on our own EPA cycle.

BMW i8 Spyder

The beauty of the drivetrain of the i8 Spyder, the car may have front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, depending on whether efficiency, performance or all-weather traction is required. Like the coupe, the i8 Spyder also features a perfect 50:50 weight distribution, and BMW claims to be completely canceled out the extra weight of the hybrid powertrain through extensive use of lightweight materials like carbon fiber and aluminum. The performance is also impressive, with 0-62 mph happens in five seconds and top speed is at 155 mph.

Not everything between the coupe and Spyder is the same, though. The i8 Spyder has a slightly shorter wheelbase and overall length. The upward-moving, frameless doors are also different. The car developers have also capricious under a pair of electric scooters under a glass panel on the back. Apart from a few modifications to the outside open air design, which are then closed with a two-piece folding roof fit the rest of the i8 Spyder is identical to the coupe, including the establishment, a little warmer various colors.

Scroll down for the official specs and info from BMW, and stay tuned while we hunt the i8 Spyder for a number of in-person impressions. Although BMW does not mention his appearance in New York Auto Show next week, the timing of this debut suggests it will be there.