When BMW released the news on 1st April 2011 that they were going to produce an M3 pick-up, it was quite clearly an April Fool, even after the clever Germans built one just for fun. Releasing the news on the first day of April this year that they were going to produce an i8 Concept Spyder left everyone wondering therefore. This is on top of all the speculation around the i8 in the first place, as to whether or not it will be produced at all. The official line now however puts the Spyder firmly forwards as a Concept car under development.
Given an overview of the performance and dynamics of the car then, it is exciting news indeed. Powered by both a petrol combustion engine and a high-performance electric motor, this plug-in hybrid reaches 62mph from a standing start in just 5 seconds. This is thanks to the lithium-ion battery distributing 131 hp to the front axle and a 1.5 litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine delivering 223 hp to the rear. The total of 354 hp, 550Nm of torque, and a weight loss of 330lbs over the i8 Concept combine to give a masterful yet playful driving experience.
The two-seater features upward-swivelling, windowless falcon-wing doors, a rear transparent glass panel, and a shortened wheelbase for decreased drag as well as sportier looks. Inside and out, the Modular LifeDrive architecture is showcased. This means that the car features a carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic passenger cell and an aluminium powertrain, chassis and safety structure. The interior features plastic, carbon and leather materials, with controls moulded around the driving position. The Spyder’s folding roof is in two sections.
Of course the real reason for rendering this prototype is in its emissions and efficiency figures. 18 miles are achieved in electric-only mode and 94 mpg in normal mode. Located in the car’s central energy tunnel to maintain handling properties, the electric motor takes just two hours to fully recharge from an ordinary domestic power socket. A clever feature, to be expected from a car from BMW is the automatic diary synchronisation with the owner’s Smartphone. This system is alerted to upcoming appointments and, when plugged into a power socket, ensures that the battery is recharged overnight so that the car is ready in the morning fully-powered.
More intelligence is found in the control of the car. Engineering if drives comes from front or rear axles, or from all four wheels, the system makes optimum use of energy. Stopping is just as smart. A KERS-like braking system makes sure that no energy goes to waste. The requisite level of BMW technology such as Park Assist, Traffic Jam Assist and camera-based pro-active Collision Warning system is included. Ground-breaking laser light technology in the headlights and an 8.8 inch screen displaying all the relevant driving information complete the bill
We can expect to see more of the BMW i8 Spyder Concept when it makes its anticipated debut at the upcoming Beijing Auto Show.