BMW i8 Spyder release date: production concept coming in 2016, reports say

BMW i8 Concept unveiled at the 2011 International Motor Show in GermanyWikimedia Commons/Abehn

The BMW i8 Concept Spyder is not a fresh concept, having been introduced at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show before it went on sale two years later.

However, a new concept is expected to be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which will be held in Las Vegas this January 2016 and that production will begin shortly after, AutoExpress UK reported.

The news comes from BMW CEO Harald Krueger, who told German newspaper Handelsblatt (via Automotive News) that the i8 Concept will have the debut for its production version "in the near future."

According to Automotive News, the i8 Spyder has all its design ready for production and it was noted that there was nothing unlikely about how it was designed, so a production version would only be fitting at this moment.

As for how the new concept for the i8 Spyder will be, speculations suggest that it will only bear minor improvements to the concept that was unveiled a few years back. AutoExpress reported that the concept will have a powertrain upgrade to improve its power and range.

The current concept has a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and two electric motors. This powertrain delivers 357 horsepower, allowing the vehicle to dash to 60 miles per hour in less than five seconds.

The production version is also expected to carry a larger battery, considering that the technology has changed since the first i8 was introduced. The current i8 Spyder has a 7.1-kilowatt lithium-ion battery pack.

As for the interior, it is expected that the concept will be revamped. Although the i8 Spyder is already a high-tech car, speculations suggest that its in-car technology, particularly safety equipment and connectivity options, will be improved.

On the other hand, the Spyder is likely to retain the door hinge mechanisms found on the i8 coupe.