Updated 12.15.14
Here are some crude renderings of a potential 2016 i8 Spyder. These might seem silly, but it is helpful to blend the roofless style of the 2012 concept with the production nose and door detailing of the 2014 i8 Coupe.
The 2012 BMW i8 Concept Spyder was a stunning showcase of the latest BMW flagship. Now that the production i8 Coupe is a huge hit around the world — and won TopGear’s Car of the Year to prove it — we’re taking another look at the drop-top version.
In theory, the carbon-fiber chassis and central portion of the i8 lends itself to the cabrio conversion very nicely. Due to how close the i8 concepts were to the production model, we believe a Spyder is not only feasible — but firmly on the radar.
A few rough renderings show what the i8 Spyder may look like in production form. Versus the concept, the production i8 Coupe shares almost every single dimension and styling detail. The wheels of the factory model are a bit smaller, and its nose is much shorter than the concept’s — all for the better.
This leaves the top.
A removable hardtop seems the most plausible, but the rear canopy may have room for some kind of sliding arrangement or perhaps a power-folding canvas element.
Overall, we are eager for the i8 Spyder — and hope it makes the cut for a production model a year after the first i8 Coupe’s Pebble Beach deliveries in August 2014.
2016 BMW i8 Spyder
2012 BMW i8 Concept Spyder
2015 BMW i8
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.