BMW has recently unveiled the i8 Concept Spyder.
According to the German carmaker, the concept is essentially a pre-production version of the i8 Coupe, which has been presented at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. It rides on a shortened wheelbase and has laser headlights, a rakish windscreen with an integrated spoiler and a semi-transparent hood, along with a rear diffuser and U-shaped taillights.
Inside, the cabin comes with leather upholstery, carbon fiber trim, piano black accents, a digital instrument cluster and a three-dimensional iDrive display.
Power comes from a plug-in hybrid powertrain that features a 129 hp electric motor and a 220 hp three-cylinder petrol engine. The i8 Concept Spyder has all-wheel drive system with the electric motor powers the front wheels and the petrol engine powers the rear wheels. This setup offers it a combined output of 349 hp and 550 Nm of torque, allowing the roadster to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 5.0 seconds and hit a top speed of 250 km/h.
The model can travel up to 30 kilometers (19 miles) on electricity alone and has a combined fuel consumption rating of 3-liter/100 km (94.1 mpg UK / 78.4 mpg US). The batteries takes just two hours to fully recharge via an ordinary domestic power socket.
