BMW has been churning out what they call the “ultimate driving machine” for some time already, and their latest effort is definitely worth looking into, assuming you have deep pockets, of course. The BMW i8 Spyder is a variation of the i8 coupe that debuted last year, and has taken a large step closer towards entering production – which means tycoons worldwide might soon be able to get their hands on one of these highly desirable rides in due time. Similar to the coupe in terms of performance, the i8 Spyder will be a plug-in through-the-road hybrid that boasts a 96 kW (131 horsepower) electric motor which will power the front axle, while a mid-mounted turbocharged three-cylinder gas engine churns out the power of 223 horses for the rear.
Lithium-ion batteries are located in a center tunnel sandwiched between the two power sources, resulting in a total system output of 354 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. It is capable of traveling around 19 miles on electric power alone, prior to the gas engine kicking in to recharge the batteries after that. According to BMW, the BMW i8 Spyder can run for 94 miles per gallon – now is that fuel economy or what?
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