BMW i8 Spyder gets the green light, report says

Even though it's been three long years since the BMW i8 Spyder debuted in concept form at the the 2012 Beijing motor show, the automaker is finally getting ready to turn concept into reality.BMW CEO Harald Krueger told the German newspaper Handelsblatt that a production version of the i8 Concept Spyder will make its debut in the near future.The Spyder version of BMW's M1-channelling plug-in hybrid has been delayed a number of times since its introduction in concept form, even though it was evident at the Beijing motor show that the car was close to production and that there was nothing implausible or unsolvable about the way it was designed.So it was a bit surprising that a full three years passed with BMW declining to move ahead on the project.In concept form, the i8 Spyder featured removable top panels and a redesigned B-pillar and rear cowl, while retaining the door hinge mechanisms of the coupe. The bodywork over the engine and electric motor was also substantially similar to that of the coupe, though a number of elements were certainly different to accomodate the removable roof piece.In production form, the i8 Spyder is expected to keep its powerplant, though we wouldn't rule out a larger battery since technology has moved on a bit since the i8 was introduced. The current version packs a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-three gas engine paired with two electric motors and a 7.1 kWh lithium-ion battery. The powertrain is good for a combined 357 hp, which allows sprints to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds.