When BMW first showed off the i-brand concepts, we had no idea we would see production models so fast. In what seemed like just a few seconds in the grand scheme of things, we were looking at production models of the BMW i3 and BMW i8. With the i8 Spyder Concept debuting in 2012, and the production version of the i8 hitting dealers for the 2015 model year, Bimmer fans everywhere have been itching for a production version of the i8 Spyder. So much, in fact, that the rumor mill has been working overtime and there have even been a few false sightings of the unicorn. But, either hell has frozen over or pigs have sprouted wings (or, maybe it’s both) because someone finally caught an official i8 Spyder prototype cruising in the middle of nowhere. They aren’t the best photos we’ve ever received, but the top is clearly down, and it appears to be every bit legitimate thanks to that “hybrid test vehicle” sticker prominently displayed on the rear fascia.
And, while we’ve all been waiting somewhat impatiently for the i8 Spyder, the fact that we’re finally seeing a prototype isn’t all that surprising. Just a few months ago, BMW CEO Harald Krueger not only confirmed the car was in the works, but that it had a production target of 2018! That means that we should see it in production form sometime toward the end of 2017. It’s doubtful that this is the i8 Spyder’s first venture onto public roads, so props to BMW for managing to keep it out of the public eye for so long. But, with that said, let’s talk a little more about what we can see from these few spy shots in my speculative review below.
Click past the jump to read in detail about the 2015 BMW i8 Spyder
Exterior
The i8 Coupe is composed primarily of carbon fiber reinforced plastic and aluminum, which is what allows for a relatively low curb weight of less than 3,300 pounds. When it comes to the Spyder, that will not change. The doors and hood will still be made from lightweight aluminum, while the front and rear fascias and front genders will be composed of a thermoplastic. And, as such, the i8 Spyder will be almost identical to its coupe sibling from the waist down. Expect to see the same aerodynamic hood and front fascia. It will, of course, sport that iconic kidney grilles. LED headlights, accent lights, and daytime running lights will also adorn the exterior.
The i8 Spyder will be almost identical to its coupe sibling from the waist down. Expect to see the same aerodynamic hood and front fascia.
Above the waistline, however, is where things will really get interesting. For now, we don’t know what the top will actually be made of. Chances are it will be CFRP or glass, but it will most likely be a hard top. Whether or not it will be stowable in the car remains to be seen. As far as the possibility of an automatic top, I wouldn’t hold my breath. There doesn’t seem to be room for all of the extra mechanicals required for such a setup on the i8 in its current design. As you can see from the spy shots, the prototype the rear area will be changed dramatically. It still has that wing-like overhang on the sides, but to the inside are a pair of supports for rollover protection. Meanwhile the rear “deck” is much flatter here than what we see on the coupe, so this may have a somewhat dramatic effect on rear aerodynamics.
Even though there is a lot of camo covering the car, we can make out that it has the same side skirts and even the same general rear fascia. Even the taillights appear to be the same. All told, the new i8 Spyder should be a pretty sexy addition to the i-brand lineup, but there’s still a lot that we don’t know about the car, so hopefully we’ll see it in full production form soon.
Interior
Note: i8 coupe interior shown here.
It will come complete with six-way power front seats with three-stage heating, leather upholstery with cloth highlights, the same three-spoke sport steering wheel with paddle shifters, and a full color heads up display.
Just because half of the body is being changed to make the i8 a spyder, don’t expect much to change on the inside. It will come complete with six-way power front seats with three-stage heating, leather upholstery with cloth highlights, the same three-spoke sport steering wheel with paddle shifters, and a full color heads up display. It will get BMW’s Navigation Professional system with the same 8.8-inch display to go with enhanced USB and Bluetooth phone connectivity. The instrument cluster will be all-digital as well, while a Harman Kardon sound system with a 360-Watt amplifier and plenty of speakers will bring the absolute best sound quality available.
Where things will really get different, however, is in the rear where there will no longer be a rear seat. This could, in theory, make it possible for the i8 Spyder to have an automatic roof of some kind, but I’m still betting it will be a removable hard top.
Where things will really get different, however, is in the rear where there will no longer be a rear seat. This could, in theory, make it possible for the i8 Spyder to have an automatic roof of some kind, but I’m still betting it will be a removable hard top. BMW 
could manage to make the space back there for the top to be carried along, but at this point, we’re just not sure. Here’s to hoping. Otherwise, there will be plenty of two-tone color options to choose from, while accents and stitching should come in blue to match the backlighting and main them color of the instrument cluster and infotainment system. We’re expecting the same center console,dash design, and door trim. But, there could be minor changes that will set the interior apart as well. IF there is, it won’t be much, so don’t go getting your hopes up for anything to extreme from what you can have in the i8 Coupe. But, with the top removed, you will have unlimited headroom. All other dimensions for front passengers should remain the same.
Drivetrain
Note: i8 coupe drivetrain pictured here.
So, even though the i8 is going to go topless, one thing the isn’t likely to change is the heart of this hybrid supercar. It should get the same mechanical and electrical bits as its coupe sibling, so expect there to be an AC synchronous electric motor that delivers 129 horsepower at 4,800 rpm and 184 pound-feet of instant torque. That will work in conjunction with a 1.5-liter, twin-turbo, three-banger (it still seems weird to say) that delivers 228 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 235 pound-feet of twist at 3,700 rpm. Altogether, it should offer a combined output of 357 horsepower and 420 pound-feet. The i8 Coupe currently makes use of a 7.1 kWh lithium ion battery, so that will also carry over. The electric motor will be attached to a two-speed automatic transmission while the ICE will get a six-speed automatic unit. All electric range should be somewhere in the 14- to 15-mile range with top speed somewhere between 70 and 75 mph. I wouldn’t expect it to have the same exact electric range and electric top speed thanks to a little extra wind resistance from going topless, but it shouldn’t affect performance too much. With both systems working together, the i8 Spyder should be able to hit 60 mph in around 4.6 seconds while top speed will still be electronically limited to 155 mph.
It should get the same mechanical and electrical bits as its coupe sibling, so expect there to be an AC synchronous electric motor that delivers 129 horsepower at 4,800 rpm and 184 pound-feet of instant torque.
As far as charging the battery goes, the coupe can be charged in 2.5 hours using a level 2 home charging station or any of the compatible public charging facilities. This figure should remain the same, but if BMW ups the side of the battery that charging time could be increased. That wouldn’t be a bad trade-off, though, if you get more range and a higher electric speed out of the deal. Outside of the eDrive driving mode, the Spyder should also get the same Eco Pro, Sport, and Comfort driving modes as well.
Pricing
At this point, pricing is still a mystery, but with the current i8 Coupe commanding $140,700 as of February 2017, and that most convertibles in BMW’s lineup see’s at least an $8,000 increase over their roofed siblings, you should expect to pay somewhere closer to $150,000 for the i8 Spyder when it first hits the market.
Competition
Audi R8 Spyder
Granted the R8 Spyder isn’t exactly a hybrid. In fact, it’s powered by a V-10 engine, so it kind of falls into a different category. But, the i8 Spyder will pretty much sit in a niche all its own anyway, so we have to get a bit creative. Audi updated the R8 Spyder for the 2017 model year, so it features fresh looks, new interior materials, and is based on its coupe sibling with a soft top roof that hides away for unlimited headroom. That V-10 delivers a cool 540 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, but you’re limited to a dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters only. Power is delivered to all fours via Audi’s quattro AWD system and is enough to get the R8 Spyder up to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds with speed topping out at 197 mph. This is more than what the i8 will offer, but it’s a topless supercar nonetheless. You’ll also pay more too. The R8 Spyder is currently going for £131,140 in the U.K., which computes to about $163,652 – about $13,000 more than what you’ll probably pay for an i8 Spyder.
Read more about the Audi R8 Spyder here.
Tesla Roadster
No; I’m not talking about the Tesla Roadster that started it all, but not that long ago, Elon Musk sure did confirm that there are plans to eventually bring a new version of the Roadster to life. Rumors indicate that it could come to be at a new Roadster event in 2019, but the new Roadster wasn’t even included in Musk’s “master plan” so take that with a grain of salt. Be that as it may, the new Roadster would be designed in-house by Tesla, so it wouldn’t get any Lotus underpinnings like the original. It will, however, borrow styling cues from the Model S and the Model 3, and would likely make use of the same drivetrain options available in those models as well. But, since it would be smaller and lighter, it would be quicker than the Model S, with estimated performance to include a sprint to 60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds to go with a ridiculous – or should I say ludicrous – top speed. Pricing for a new Tesla Roadster would likely sit around $150,000 which would put it right in line with the i8 Spyder.
Read our full review on the upcoming Tesla Roadster here.
Acura NSX Spyder
The rendering you see above is quite old, and was created before we got a look at the official NSX coupe. But, you get the idea. If it does come to be, it’ll look just like the current NSX from the waist down and will likely take on a look similar to that of the i8 Spyder up top. The heart of this topless beast would include a 3.5-liter V-6 mated to a nine-speed dual clutch, and two electric motors that are powered by a lithium-ion battery. The ICE pumps out a total of 500 horsepower and 406 pound-feet while the electric motors – known as a twin-motor unit – offer up an extra 47 ponies and 109 pound-feet. Total system output would sit around 573 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque. Due to it’s topless nature it would be a bit heavier and not quite as aerodynamic, so it would likely take more like 3.2 seconds to hit 60 mph and would top out around 187 mph. With the new NSX coupe starting out at $156,000 as of the time of this writing, pricing for the Spyder or Roadster version would be upward of $165,000 to $170,000.
Read our full review on the upcoming Acura NSX Spyder here.
Conclusion
It’s actually quite refreshing to finally see a few shots of an actual i8 Spyder prototype being put through the paces. After all of the rumors and false sightings being nothing but huge disappointments, this is finally the confirmation we need that BMW i s really planning on bringing the Spyder to life – and potentially for the 2018 model year as well. From the way these spy shots look, the i8 Spyder is pretty close to being production ready, so I’m guessing will see it drop the camo sooner rather than later. Until then, enjoy the first legitimate spy shots that we’ve seen so far and stay tuned for updates.