The long-awaited BMW i8 Spyder will be unveiled in a concept form at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2016, according to a report by Autocar.
The report claims BMW has the i8 Spyder supercar almost production ready, suggesting a production launch could happen within the 12 months after the Las Vegas tech show in January.
A concept version of the i8 Spyder was originally unveiled at the Beijing motor show in 2012 but various difficulties, including turning the carbonfibre-reinforced plastic body shell into a convertible, have slowed the project down.
Specific details are thin on the ground, but it’s more than likely the i8 Coupe and i8 Spyder will share the same hybrid powertrain, which means 228bhp developed by a 1.5-litre petrol engine at the rear and a front-mounted electric motor.
That means a 0-62mph sprint of 4.4 seconds is possible – give or take a tenth for any extra weight gain the convertible has to endure to make it work.
As CES is a tech show, BMW is likely to focus on the i8 Spyder’s infotainment capabilities and gadgets, both areas where improvements are expected. But adjustments to the car’s powertrain to increase its electric-only range of 23 miles have also been touted.
The convertible may not be the only surprise in 2016. Last year a report claimed BMW was working on a faster, more potent version of the i8 known as the i8S, which is said to have around 500hp.
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