2012 LA: BMW i8 Spyder Concept goes topless in LA
BMW i’s i8 Spyder Concept is also making its stateside debut at the 2012 LA Auto Show next to the new i3 Coupe Concept.
So when will you see the i3 and the i8 on the roads? One of BMW i brand’s slogan is ‘the future is closer than you think’ – and that’s very true. The BMW i3 will be hitting markets next year, followed by the i8 in 2014.
Refresher: Power for the BMW i8 Spyder Concept comes from the same setup as the i8 coupe. A 131-hp electric-motor drives the front axle while a 1.5 liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine making 220-hp and 221 lb-ft of torque moves the rear axle. Together, the system produced 349-hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a twin-speed transmission, the BMW i8 Spyder Concept runs from 0 to 62 mph in less than 5 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. On a full charge of its lithium-ion battery, the BMW i8 Spyder provides all-electric driving range of approximately 20 miles with a total range of around 400 miles. BMW says that the two-seater burns just three litres of petrol per 100 kilometers, which comes out to around 78 miles per gallon.
– By: Omar Rana
