BMW has officially unveiled the i8 Spyder ahead of its debut at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show, previewing the open-top two-seater concept which will eventually enter production within the next couple of years.
This roofless i8 coupe features a shorter wheelbase, regular doors instead of butterfly doors, a transparent engine cover and a slightly redesigned rear end.
The car uses the same combination of intelligent lightweight design and state-of-the-art hybrid technology which in the end translates into ‘genuine sports car performance’ and fuel consumption levels that are no higher than you would expected from a small vehicle.
The plug-in-hybrid powertrain comprises from a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine capable of churning out 220 HP and 300 Nm of torque via a dual clutch transmission, and an electric motor that provides and an additional 129 HP (96 kW).
Thorough this system the i8 Spyder produced a total of 349 HP (260 kW) and 550 Nm of torque, figures which help it sprint from 0 to 62 mph (100 Km/h) in 5.0 seconds and enable it to hit a top speed of 155 mph (250 Km/h).
According to BMW the i8 Spyder requires just 3.0-litres of fuel per 100 Km (94 mpg / EU cycle), and it is capable of covering up to 17 to 19 miles (27 to 30 Km) on just electricity provided by the lithium-ion batteries.
