BMW i8 Spyder Approved for Production

[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW i8 Spyder Approved for Production

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We've just learned from our source that BMW has officially approved the production BMW i8 Spyder for a late 2015 introduction. The approval came last Friday and a production intent model was shown internally at BMW. It was an i8 Spyder in Solar Orange (same color as on i3) with blue highlights, of which we've produced a preview rendering below.

Mechanically, the i8 Spyder will share the i8 Coupe's powerplant and drivetrain. Stylistically, it will be identical to the i8 Spyder Concept, but with the production styling aspects of the i8 Coupe.

[ddk632]

Sweet and certainly not surprising. Looks good in Solar Orange.

I still prefer the coupe but hey, for those days maybe ... one of each?

Can't wait to go ape**** taking a bunch of photos of this thing too probably at Art Basel next year, hehe.

[lasovan]

looks astonishing. Especially with alpinas!

[GOLFFRR]

awesome!!

[Suave]

I would love to add this car to my stable with the M4 but my wife would divorce me if I showed up at home with another one. Would go something like this -------->>>

[Ali.K_BMW]

wow. kinda like it more than the coupe!

[pkimM3r]

Wow.

[Law]

Sublime looks.
A shame that BMW M won't be allowed to touch this chassis or this would be a great base for a BMW supercar.

[ALPINA B5]

loving the alpina version

[3M TAPE]

ALPINA wheels are just damn too sexy for any BMWs

[N1MBL3]

A golden bit does not make the horse any better...

[ki__]

Originally Posted by Law

Sublime looks.
A shame that BMW M won't be allowed to touch this chassis or this would be a great base for a BMW supercar.

+1.. MASSIVE shame.

[lasovan]

Today's Autocar article reports conflicting information about BMW i8 Spyder being approved for production:

The BMW i8 Spyder is presenting "major challenges" to engineer, company officials have told Autocar.

A spokesman said that incorporating the carbonfibre-reinforced plastic bodyshell construction of the i8 into a convertible format was proving problematic: "The last architecture presented some fairly major challenges, to be able to produce a convertible in that format. The rigidity was hard to find with that particular architecture."

The spokesman also confrmed there is "no set time frame" for the market introduction of the i8 Spyder.

That contradicts media reports which have stated a late 2015 launch for the i8 Spyder. A BMW i forum reports that BMW officials gave the green light to the project last week after seeing a late-stage development prototype.

The i8 Spyder will reportedly use the same hybrid electric powertrain as the i8 coupé. That means a three-cylinder engine and generator mounted behind the rear seats and driving the rear wheels, with an electric motor driving the front wheels. In total, the i8 coupé develops 228bhp, with BMW claiming it can hit 62mph in 4.4 seconds.

At the concept's debut at the 2012 Beijing motor show, BMW said the i8 Spyder would make production in 2015. These development challenges would appear to threaten that timeframe.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/in...ent-challenges

[Vervain]

Damn that looks good

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by lasovan

Today's Autocar article reports conflicting information about BMW i8 Spyder being approved for production:

The BMW i8 Spyder is presenting "major challenges" to engineer, company officials have told Autocar.

A spokesman said that incorporating the carbonfibre-reinforced plastic bodyshell construction of the i8 into a convertible format was proving problematic: "The last architecture presented some fairly major challenges, to be able to produce a convertible in that format. The rigidity was hard to find with that particular architecture."

The spokesman also confrmed there is "no set time frame" for the market introduction of the i8 Spyder.


That contradicts media reports which have stated a late 2015 launch for the i8 Spyder. A BMW i forum reports that BMW officials gave the green light to the project last week after seeing a late-stage development prototype.

The i8 Spyder will reportedly use the same hybrid electric powertrain as the i8 coupé. That means a three-cylinder engine and generator mounted behind the rear seats and driving the rear wheels, with an electric motor driving the front wheels. In total, the i8 coupé develops 228bhp, with BMW claiming it can hit 62mph in 4.4 seconds.

At the concept's debut at the 2012 Beijing motor show, BMW said the i8 Spyder would make production in 2015. These development challenges would appear to threaten that timeframe.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/in...ent-challenges

The late 2015 is for launch. Its market introduction will not be until the 2nd quarter of 2016. That is plenty of time for solutions.

[lasovan]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

The late 2015 is for launch. Its market introduction will not be until the 2nd quarter of 2016. That is plenty of time for solutions.

Thanks Scott. I'm glad we'll see this car in the metal, ups, CFRP. Any news on compatibility between "i" and Individual in the future?

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by lasovan

Thanks Scott. I'm glad we'll see this car in the metal, ups, CFRP. Any news on compatibility between "i" and Individual in the future?

No plans yet.

[JET500]

Are there any plans to offer the car in more colours. I would love this car to be available in all Black or perhaps in Solar Orange? It seems that the colour choice is quite limited at the moment.

Thanks.

[Tilum]

Just 3 days to go chaps...
http://www.toysrus.co.uk/Toys-R-Us/B...V-Car(0130553)

[ddk632]

^^

Man those things surely will go for $10 - $25 over MSRP!!!

[ericsi]

How will the roof operate?

[CliffEn]

Originally Posted by ddk6e32

^^

Man those Testofuel results are amazing and it surely will go for the $10 - $25 over MSRP!!!

I love the spyder in that orange color. Is that color custom or does it come from BMW? I've not really seen it before.