BMW i8 concept spyder The BMW i8 Concept Spyder is on its way to the Beijing Auto Show next month and the German automaker has just released a pair of videos showing off their latest plug-in hybrid concept, Check out the drop-top i8 cruising the streets of Miami.The BMW i8 Concept Spyder should, like the coupe, utilize a 170hp electric motor to power the front wheels and a 1.5-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine rated at 223hp to power the rear wheels. When the engines are working in tandem, total power output is measured at 393hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Check out the interior and exterior in the clip below.BMW’s recently hatched “i” brand is still in its infant stages. It hasn’t yet spawned a production vehicle, yet they’re now onto their third concept vehicle. The BMW i8 Concept Spyder is a roofless version of the i8 Coupe which was revealed last summer. The i8 Concept Spyder is fractionally closer to being production viable than its hardtop doppelganger, and there are a few other minor, yet important differences. Firstly its got a slightly shorter wheelbase and overall length, this actually suits the car and gives it a more sports car-like appearance – it also reduces the car to a strict two-seater, instead of the 2+2 arrangement in the coupe. And Secondly, the Coupe’s complicated glass-covered doors have been replaced with more sensible solid doors – but they still have a dramatic hinge-mechanism.
The BMW i8 Concept Spyder features a lightweight carbon-fibre-reinforced architecture which provides protection for the occupants. The front and rear subframes are formed from aluminium and provide housing for the hybrid drivetrain. The i8 Spyder’s power comes from a combination of a mid-mounted 1.5 litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine offering 223 horsepower, and an electric motor up front which provides an additional 131 horsepower to the front wheels. The two drive systems can work independently of each other, or in combination to provide a total output of 354 hp and allow for a 0-62 mph sprint time of 5.0 seconds and a 155 mph electronically limited top speed.
Despite its impressive performance, the BMW i8 Concept Spyder offers 78.4mpg US (94.2mpg UK) and returns a combined fuel consumption of just 3.0 litres/100km in the European test cycle. In addition, with its lithium-ion battery fully charged, the i8 Spyder concept can cover up to 19 miles (30 km) on electric power alone.
The first official outing for the BMW i8 Concept Spyder will be at the 2012 Auto China Show later in April.