BMW i8 Spyder Concept (Foto Ufficiali)

[Touareg 2.5]

es.autoblog

Press Release :

BMW i8 Concept Spyder.

The BMW i8 Concept Spyder with eDrive is an open-top two-seater

embodying a form of personal mobility with equal sporting and emotional

appeal.

Under the banner of its sub-brand BMW i, the BMW Group is

developing a range of purpose-built vehicle concepts and complementary mobility

services which meet the changing needs of customers and redefine the

understanding of personal mobility. As well as adopting intelligent technologies

and innovative design, BMW i is pursuing an all-embracing approach defined to a

significant degree by sustainability throughout the value

chain.

Following the presentation of the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8

Concept, the BMW Group introduces the BMW i8 Concept Spyder to the mix. This

third BMW i model embodies the future of cutting-edge and emotionally appealing

mobility concepts. Its sporting design headlines the qualities of an open-top

two-seater blending lightness, dynamic capability and efficiency with a very

special aesthetic allure.

The combination of intelligent lightweight

design and state-of-the-art hybrid technology imbues the BMW i8 Concept Spyder

with genuine sports car performance, yet its fuel consumption is no higher than

you would expect from a small car.

Among the most eye-catching features

of the BMW i8 Concept Spyder are the upward-swivelling, windowless doors and a

range of purpose-oriented on-board equipment including electric kickboards

stowed under a transparent tailgate. The sports car is based around the

innovative LifeDrive architecture, itself underpinned by a lightweight modular

construction and the use of high-quality high-tech materials. The BMW i8 Concept

Spyder is a plug-in hybrid powered by an eDrive drivetrain combining a

high-performance electric motor and petrol combustion engine. The lithium-ion

battery supplying the motor with power can be recharged in an extremely short

space of time from any domestic power socket. Together, the car's minimised

weight, low centre of gravity and finely judged balance, coupled with a combined

system output of up to 260 kW (354 hp), promise unbeatable dynamic capability,

exceptional efficiency and unbridled driving pleasure.

Barely a year

after the unveiling of the 2+2-seater BMW i8 Concept, BMW i is presenting the

second variant of this innovative hybrid sports car, a machine designed to light

up the path to compelling and purpose-oriented mobility. Like its Coupe sibling,

the emotionally charged BMW i8 Concept Spyder combines intelligent lightweight

design with the leading-edge drivetrain technology eDrive, while its open-top

two-seater construction delivers an even more intense driving experience. This

is a car in which outstanding performance potential goes hand-in-hand with

extremely low fuel consumption and emissions.

Compared with the Coupe

variant of the BMW i8 Concept, the BMW i8 Concept Spyder has a slightly shorter

wheelbase and overall length. With its compact dimensions and distinctive

exterior paintwork, the sports car exudes a feeling of dynamism before it so

much as turns a wheel, while striking features of its design include

upward-swivelling, windowless doors and a transparent glass panel at the rear.

Underneath this cover two electric kickboards are stowed, providing a visual

showcase for the fun factor in mobility and adding another layer to the car's

recreational appeal. Inside, a revised material and colour concept provides an

extra dose of sportiness. Like the Coupe, the BMW i8 Concept Spyder with eDrive

is a high-performance plug-in hybrid, and it fuses the specific advantages of an

electric motor and combustion engine to optimum effect. Exceptional efficiency

and dynamic capability are the upshot.

Modular LifeDrive

architecture offers a preview of the future.

Like the Coupe, the

BMW i8 Concept Spyder is also built around the innovative LifeDrive

architecture, a fusion of independent functional units. For example, the

carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) Life module gives the car an extremely

lightweight passenger cell, while the Drive modules – made primarily from

aluminium components – bring together all the car's operational driving

functions, such as the powertrain, chassis and safety structure. Impressively

extensive use of high-tech materials allows this innovative concept to chart new

territory in terms of weight minimisation, structural rigidity and crash safety.

This is good news not only for the car's dynamic performance, but also for its

range and fuel economy. Intelligent lightweight design, encompassing the use of

innovative materials, has allowed the unavoidable additional weight of the

high-output hybrid drivetrain to be cancelled out in full. Plus, the LifeDrive

architecture has been carefully adapted to the sports car character of the BMW

i8 Concept Spyder. The front and rear axle modules are connected by an "energy

tunnel", which houses the hybrid battery. This allows the engineers to give the

car a low centre of gravity and ideal balance.

The distinctive two-way

split of the LifeDrive concept is also reflected in the car's design, which

renders the basic elements of the body clearly distinguishable. Expressive

surfaces and precise lines create a harmonious transition from one module into

another. This overlap and interlocking of surfaces and lines – "layering" in BMW

i speak – is displayed both on the body and in the interior of the new

car.

Latest interpretation of the BMW i design language.

The BMW i8 Concept Spyder's emotion-led design vividly spotlights

the car's qualities, with lightness, dynamic capability and efficiency

highlighted to particularly prominent effect. For example, the two-seater

embodies the perfect synthesis of technology and aesthetic appeal, and exudes

unbridled driving pleasure even when stationary. Key to creating this impression

of sporty dynamics are large body panels, a hunkered-down stance and numerous

aerodynamic elements such as contact surfaces, spoiler lips, AirCurtains and

aeroflaps. These features substantially reduce the hybrid car's Cd and enhance

both efficiency and range.

Dynamic front end.

The

front end offers a particularly revealing window into the open-top two-seater's

dynamic talent. One defining element is the headlights with pioneering laser

light technology, which follow the hallmark BMW i U-shaped design template. A

semi-transparent "V" opens out from the front end of the flat bonnet towards the

windscreen and beckons the eye to the electric motor below. A spoiler lip

positioned on the windscreen frame guides the airflow over the heads of the

passengers. And for journeys when the weather cannot quite be trusted, the

planned two-section folding roof might well come in

handy.

Athletic silhouette.

Short front and rear

overhangs and a low-slung silhouette define the side view of the BMW i8 Concept

Spyder and underline its athletic character. Alluring lines and forms generate a

strong forward-surging stance even before the car powers off the line. The

doors, which open by pivoting forwards around the A-pillar axis, further enhance

the BMW i8 Concept Spyder's emotional impact. Below the doors, the side skirts

create a powerful wedge shape which opens out towards the rear. At the same

time, the open-top two-seater cuts a light and flowing figure and appears as if

carved from a single mould.

Striking rear.

Like the

front end, the rear also sits low to the road. Its headline feature is a

transparent cover revealing the two folded electric kickboards accommodated

below. Adopting the hallmarks of BMW i design, the kickboards are perfect for

relaxed cruising along promenades and paths or around city squares. There can be

few more attractive advertisements for individual mobility. A visually imposing

rear diffuser, three-dimensional air outlets and the U-shaped rear lights give

the BMW i8 Concept Spyder an extremely wide appearance and emphasise its

sporting credentials.

Functional aesthetics: layering in the

interior.

The interior of the BMW i8 Concept Spyder is defined by

three levels showcasing its various functions. As with the car's body, the

interlocking of surfaces and lines is also one of the stand-out features of the

interior design. The outer layer frames the supporting structure, while the

inner "comfort" layer comprises seat surfaces and stowage compartments. The

cockpit fills the third "technical" layer, bringing together the instrument

panel, steering column and steering wheel with the instrument cluster, central

information display and control elements. The prominent driver focus of the

cockpit and the low seating position, which adds further depth to the open-top

two-seater's credibility, are particularly eye-catching. All the controls are in

just the right position and, like the other functional components of the

interior, designed to further enliven the driving experience. An 8.8-inch (22.4

cm) screen displays all the relevant driving information in three-dimensional,

high-resolution quality.

The colour and materials concept also provides

some stand-out touches. The Spyder's interior is defined by a mixture of

plastic, carbon and leather, with the off-white of the outer layer and the bold

orange tone of the naturally tanned leather generating a sporting atmosphere

rich in contrast. The cockpit and centre console also show slight modifications

over the Coupe. The overall effect of the interior is one of quality, purity and

emotional appeal.

Plug-in hybrid: the perfect alliance of dynamic

capability and efficiency.

Like the Coupe, the BMW i8 Concept

Spyder with eDrive is a plug-in hybrid combining two different power sources and

employing the specific advantages of its electric motor and combustion engine to

optimum effect. The hybrid drivetrain's key components gel together with

outstanding smoothness, allowing it to offer peerless dynamic capability and

maximum efficiency. In other words, the open-top two-seater produces the

performance of an out-and-out sports machine yet posts the fuel economy of a

small car.

The 96 kW (131 hp) electric motor on the front axle works in

tandem with a turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine sending 164 kW (223 hp)

through the rear wheels. Both units are in-house BMW Group developments and

generate an aggregate system output of 260 kW (354 hp) and peak torque of 550

Newton metres. That is enough to accelerate the BMW i8 Concept Spyder from 0 to

100 km/h (62 mph) in five seconds on the way to an electronically governed top

speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). Despite this performance, the two-seater burns just

three litres of petrol per 100 kilometres (equivalent to fuel economy of 94 mpg

imp) in the European test cycle.

The electric motor sources its energy

from a lithium-ion battery which can be fully charged from a domestic power

socket in less than two hours. The high-output battery is located in the energy

tunnel between the front and rear axle modules in order to keep the car's centre

of gravity as low as possible – and therefore to maximise the car's dynamic

performance. The space-saving and well-balanced packaging of this and other

drive and chassis components gives the sporting two-seater ideal 50:50 weight

distribution.

With its battery fully charged, the BMW i8 Concept Spyder

can cover up to 30 kilometres (19 miles) on electric power alone. As such, far

from filling in as a bit-part player, the electric motor plays a role equal to

that of the petrol engine. If required, a high-voltage alternator hooked up to

the combustion engine generates extra power, which is then stored in the hybrid

battery. This range-extending function during the course of a journey allows the

two-seater to travel further between charging stations.

Another special

feature of the BMW i8 Concept Spyder is the ability to send power through the

front, rear or all four wheels at the same time. Intelligent control electronics

ensure that the optimum drive configuration is available for the situation at

hand. The driver can view the driving mode currently engaged and monitor the

activity of the two drive sources on the large information display in the

cockpit. Furthermore, the electronic systems ensure maximum energy recuperation

under braking or when coasting. All of which means that the driver can enjoy

maximum dynamic performance, unbeatable directional stability and minimal

consumption and emissions at all times.

Connectivity: the perfect

link between mobile living environments.

BMW i sums up the idea of

mobility geared to the demands of the future and the needs of its customers. To

this end, BMW i drivers will have a new generation of driver assistance systems

at their disposal which significantly enhance both safety and comfort. For

example, the camera-based proactive Collision Warning system, Parking Assistant

and Traffic Jam Assistant ensure all on board can enjoy a safe and relaxed

journey.

In addition, BMW i is developing an array of innovative

connectivity functions which provide a seamless link between its models and

their owners' lives outside the car. Remote functions accessed via a smartphone

help users to locate their car in large car parks (CarFinder), show nearby

charging stations, allow the battery to be charged at pre-set times and inform

drivers on the current status of their vehicle. Plus, the battery and interior

can be brought up to peak operating temperature before the driver sets off on a

journey. The Last Mile Navigation function, meanwhile, assists drivers after

they have parked their car, with route instructions transferred directly onto

their smartphone directing them along the last leg of their journey on foot – to

a museum or restaurant, for example. And the Intermodal Route Planning function

effectively integrates the car into the local public transport network and

provides information on current parking availability at the driver's

destination.

Interface design aids intelligent mobility.

Two large displays inside the BMW i8 Concept Spyder make up the

interface between the car, its passengers and the outside world. Positioned

alongside the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, the central

information display flags up all relevant information and assists the driver in

the use of connectivity applications. A third display shows the automatic

climate control settings currently engaged. All the screens display their

information in 3D, and the cutting-edge, visually appealing graphics are also

impressively clear.

Instrument cluster.

The

instrument cluster displays important driving data using two variable-form

ellipses. Positioned alongside the digital speedometer, the efficiency display

allows drivers to view how much energy they are currently using – or recovering

through the recuperation process. Added to which, the display also contains

extra navigation details and information on the car's range when running purely

on electric power, its range when powered by the combustion engine alone and its

range using both power units in tandem. If the driver switches to energy-saving

ECO PRO mode, the display turns blue in colour to signal the shift in functional

emphasis, and the ellipses now also vary in form. By the same token, moving into

SPORT mode treats the driver to an emotional orange hue. As well as the changes

in colour, the displays also provide information tailored to the driving mode

selected and to assisting the driver as effectively as

possible.

Central information display.

The central

information display in the BMW i8 Concept Spyder makes a key contribution to

intelligent mobility. It allows the driver to view the current status of the

hybrid system, provides a platform for menu navigation and route guidance, and

uses innovative connectivity functions to offer drivers a gateway into their

lives outside the car. This ensures drivers remain up to speed at all times on

how the combustion engine and electric motor are being used, while also being

able to monitor the energy flow within the

system.

Forward-thinking analysis of the driving

situation.

The car's power electronics are linked up to intelligent

navigation and traffic guidance systems to enable the hybrid drive system to

work at maximum efficiency. In this way, information on route profile, speed

limits and unavoidable traffic congestion are incorporated into the calculations

of the energy management system so that the hybrid system's operating strategy

can be adapted accordingly. For example, proactive charging of the hybrid

battery allows the BMW i8 Concept Spyder to negotiate a traffic tailback on the

road ahead using electric power alone – and therefore without producing any

emissions. In addition, handy displays such as fuel consumption history allow

interesting reflections on past journeys and help to optimise the driving style

of the individual at the wheel.

Perfectly prepared at all times

thanks to diary synchronisation.

Intelligent connectivity functions

open the door to a host of other practical solutions when it comes to preparing

the BMW i8 Concept Spyder for its daily workload. One example of this is

automatic diary synchronisation with the driver's smartphone. The system

registers upcoming appointments and, when plugged into a power socket, ensures

that the battery is topped up overnight so that the car is ready for action with

a fully charged battery the following morning.

The BMW i

concept.

BMW i is about the development of visionary vehicles and

mobility services, inspiring design, and a new premium perception strongly

guided by sustainability. Under the banner of the young sub-brand, the BMW Group

is developing purpose-built vehicle concepts which redefine the understanding of

personal mobility. Key elements include groundbreaking technologies, intelligent

lightweight design and the innovative use of materials, all with the aim of

creating vehicles with extremely low weight, the greatest possible range,

generous interior space, poised and authoritative driving characteristics, and

exceptional safety. The BMW i8 Concept Spyder follows in the tyre tracks of the

BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept Coupe as the third concept car created under

the BMW i sub-brand.

Sustainability plays a paramount role in the BMW i

concept. It is an issue that runs like a thread throughout the value chain – all

the way from purchasing, through development and production to sales and

marketing. And when it comes to the efficient manufacturing of its vehicles, BMW

i goes a step further still.

The Leipzig production plant will see an

additional 70 per cent reduction in water use and 50 per cent drop in energy

consumption per vehicle over the years ahead. And the energy that is used will

be sourced 100 per cent from renewable sources.

Specifications:

BMW i8 Concept Spyder

Length/Height/Width: L 4480 mm, H 1208 mm, W

1922 mm

Wheelbase: 2650 mm

No. of seats: 2

Kerb weight: 1630 kg

Top

speed: 250 km/h (155 mph) electr. governed

Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (62 mph)

5 s 80-120 km/h (50-75 mph) 4.0 s

System output TwinPower Turbo engine: 260

kW / 550 Nm 164 kW / 300 Nm

Fuel consumption (EU cycle): 3 l/100km / 94 mpg

imp

eDrive

output electric motor: 96 kW

electric range: approx. 27-30

km (17 – 19 miles)

battery charge time: standard: 1.45 h for 100% charge

approx.

Luggage compartment: 100 litres

BMW

Leakkeate le prime ufficiali della i8 Spyder in formato concept.

Modificato 31 Marzo 2012 da Touareg 2.5

[infallibile_GF]

è orripilante

[A.Masera]

oscena...

[justjames]

Che è 'sta robba?!

[TONI]

alcuni elementi sembrano interessanti ma nel totale sembra un' auto di ghiaccio che si sta sciogliendo

[RiRino]

:disp2:si poteva fare molto molto meglio con quella base...

[nicogiraldi]

mi piace la configurazione targa.

[MeneS]

Veramente orrenda

Dietro ha il tanga da Ferrari

[superkappa125]

Continuo a non capire perché abbiano scelto di mandare in produzione proprio questo concept, è agghiacciante.

Non mi piacciono gli spigoli netti che separano la fiancata da frontale e posteriore (roba da Toyota di qualche anno fa) e trovo risolte malissimo le due ali sospese.

[Touareg 2.5]

Aggiornato il primo messaggio con foto e press ufficiali .

Confermo, comunque, i pareri poco positivi a riguardo.