BMW's i8 Spyder Will Bring More Power

BMW is in the advanced stages of testing its lovely i8 Spyder, and we’ve just learned that it’s set to arrive with a power hike.

Skip to the video’s 15-second mark to see the new car’s appearance at the Nurburgring recently. The open-top i8 will arrive in early 2018, to coincide with the coupe’s facelift, and both versions will get the same upgrades versus the current car.

The rumour mill is currently pinning a 10 per cent power boost to the cars, taking it to around 420bhp; still slightly less than you get in an M3 but with the obvious benefit of greater fuel economy and much more technology to play with.

It’s expected that the i8 Spyder will be heavier than the 1560kg coupe, though. It won’t have an electric roof, instead using a canvas panel that has to be removed and stowed by hand, much like the original Porsche Boxster Spyder. Practical? No. Exclusive? Yes. Better-looking? Definitely.

Elsewhere there’s likely to be updated tech in the cabin, with gesture control one of the features that are likely to be added to the car from 2018. Some sort of greater autonomy is also on the cards. On the visual front it will swap a regular tailgate for supercar-style buttresses behind the two seats.

In related news we understand that the faster version of the already quick i3 will arrive before the i8 Spyder, suggesting that next year could be a very interesting time for exciting electrified cars.

Via: Autocar