Radical BMW concept previews fast, efficient future
Green is dull, right? Clearly the people at BMW don't think so, this stunning Vision EfficientDynamics concept demonstrating that environmental saintliness with some devilish performance is possible. Due to be unveiled officially at the Frankfurt motor show in September, the Vision EfficientDynamics delivers all BMW's green technology in a single vehicle. However, with driver pleasure being core to BMW's brand philosophy this green machine was designed to return performance on a par with BMW's M models.
It delivers too, the Vision EfficientDynamics reaching 62mph in just 4.8 seconds and hitting an electronically limited 155mph maximum speed. To achieve this BMW has had to be creative, mating a three-cylinder, direct injection turbodiesel engine to two electric motors. They're powered by lithium ion batteries, which can be charged up by plugging into your home supply and are kept in tip-top condition on the move by scavenged energy through braking and when the car is coasting.
BMW hasn't wasted any of the energy its concept develops; even the heat from the turbodiesel's exhausts is reclaimed and converted into electricity. The small diesel engine is placed at the rear behind the second row of seats and is aided by electric motors on the front and rear axles. The result is a combined 351bhp and 590lb.ft of torque, yet emissions of just 99g/km and fuel consumption of 75.1mpg on the combined cycle.
Capable of running on its electric power alone for 31 miles, if this were to be taken into consideration on the official tests the Vision EfficientDynamics could record a claimed 50g/km - even including the energy used to generate the electricity it pulls from the national grid.
It's not just brimming with green technology either, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics also featuring cool details like a 3D heads-up display and polycarbonate glass that darkens as the sun brightens. Lightweight construction, gull-wing doors and the ability to communicate with other cars to avoid congestion and find parking spaces also feature. It might be called Vision, but the technology already exists in many of BMW's current production cars. If this is the future of green motoring then we're more than happy to call ourselves environmentalists.
Radical BMW concept previews fast, efficient future pictures
