BMW i8 Spyder concept coming true!

There’s no denying the allure of the BMW i8. One of our writers in particular is a bit too obsessed with it, bordering on objectophilia (read also: BMWi8: A Plug-In Hybrid, A Sports Car, A Dream Machine). When we were at the Formula E races in Putrajaya, the safety cars, which were i8’s, attracted as much attention as the electric race cars themselves. The design is a monumental achievement of technology and style. We didn’t think that it could be improved on…until the Spyder came along.

The BMW i8 Spyder concept debuted in 2012 and BMW CEO Harold Krueger told a German publication that a production version is coming soon. The coupe has 3” shaved off the top, making it 50.3” in height, and is an inch thinner and 6” shorter. Because the roof has been sliced off, stronger structural rigidity makes its 300lbs heavier, tipping the scale at 3,200lbs, but decreasing fuel efficiency just ever so slightly.

As for the powertrain, the Spyder uses the same 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine and a synchronous electric motor and a Li-ion battery pack, which work together to produce 362hp and propel the i8 from 0-62mph in just 4.4seconds.