The open-top, two-seater version of the innovative BMW i8 plug-in hybrid made its world premiere today at the China Auto Show in Beijing. At this point, the i8 Concept Spyder is just a concept, but a production version is most probably in the works.
Despite being slightly shorter and losing two seats compared to the i8 Coupe, the Spyder mirrors its closed-roof sibling in its design, lightweight carbonfiber construction and plug-in hybrid powertrain.
A mid-mounted three-cylinder turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine with 220HP and 300Nm (221 lb-ft) drives the rear wheels via a dual-clutch transmission, while a 129HP electric motor drives the front axle. The internal combustion engine and the electric motor can run independently or at the same time. Maximum combined power is 349HP and peak torque reaches 550Nm (405.6 lb-ft).
That’s good enough for a 5.0-second sprint from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) and, as is customary with most German cars except Porsches, an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), while average consumption in the European test cycle is just 3.0 lt/100 km (78.4 mpg US).
In Beijing, BMW also announced that all electric and plug-in hybrids of its “i” sub-brand shall receive the eDrive designation, which denotes the BMW-developed electric motor, lithium-ion battery pack and “intelligent” motor management system.
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