BMW Plug-in Hybrid Sports Car Coming in 2013
Published February 2, 2010
A senior BMW executive last week told Edmunds.com that its 356-horsepower plug-in hybrid 2+2 concept sports car is headed for production in 2013. Only time will tell if the comment is backed by a real commitment from BMW. Regardless, the vehicle follows an emerging trend that the world’s fastest, most exotic, and most expensive sports vehicles will utilize some form of efficient electric-drive technology. It also, once again, shatters the image of a hybrid as slow and dorky.
“It’s the sports car of the future, the way BMW imagines it.” That’s how Adrian van Hooydonk, director of BMW’s group design, described the “BMW Vision EfficientDynamics” two-door vehicle that was unveiled at last year’s Frankfurt Auto Show. BMW’s overarching goal was to combine breath-taking speed and groundbreaking efficiency. In the BMW Vision, that boils down to 4.8-second 0-to-60 miles per hour acceleration and 63 mile to the gallon.
First, BMW engineers use the rear-axle to combine a turbo-charged three-cylinder diesel engine and the mildest forms of hybrid technology. Then they add a second motor to drive the front wheels exclusively by electricity. When both motors and the diesel engine are called into service, the overall system can put out 356 horsepower. The car’s slippery design boasts a drag coefficient of 0.22—beating out the Toyota Prius’s 0.25. With great aerodynamics and a lightweight polycarbonate glass skin, the Vision’s 10.8 kWh battery provides enough grid-supplied energy storage to travel 30 miles purely on electricity.
The BMW executive told Edmunds that total volume could be between 5,000 and 10,000 units. No word yet on price, but the lithium ion batteries, diesel engine, exotic materials, and low-production numbers can’t be cheap. It will probably slot well above the BMW ActiveHybrid 7, the 4.4-liter V8 sedan offering around 20 mpg, which will sell for $103,000 when it debuts in mid-2010.
2 years ago
I hope this technology trickles down to their other products. As a car enthusiast, there's not much out there for me that's green and fun to drive at the same time!
2 years ago
Finally, a car from BMW that I would probably buy. Sold all my BMW's off two years ago due to their apalling MPG. The only one that is good is the 3 series diesel but it is fabulously overpriced and too small. Can't wait to hear more details about this car actually shipping.
2 years ago
Scientists have made the first renewable fuel cell that can store more energy than petrol. VANADIUM of course! : http://bit.ly/12TrOE
2 years ago
This is the option to socialistic subsidies against gasoline - let the EV do what the EV does best and let the market drive it.
EVs are awesome and initially, they are expensive. Just put them in expensive cars, make the expensive cars better so they will sell. Mass production will eventually bring the prices down.
Tesla did it, there's no reason any car company can't.
Sure, I'd prefer a $20K eco vehicle but initially that isn't any more realistic than a $75 big-screen TV today.
2 years ago
If only they would release a car that actually looked like that, I still don't understand why the prototype vehicle gets so munted in the process of bringing it to market.
2 years ago
ElectroVelocity,
Unfortunately, concept cars are just like cartoons. Just because and artist can conceptualize something doesn't mean it can actually work.
2 years ago
This car is the sh**. i've never seen such a beatiful car in my live time!!
2 years ago
Wie viel?
1 year ago
Agreed, this is a beauty - I'm buying one.
1 year ago
See if you can find videos of the Vision as well. It is a gorgeous car when it is in motion. The slats in the kidney grill adjust for air intake needs and illuminate as well. The wheels can also tune their intake requirements. I was up close to this car at the LA Auto Show and was captivated by it's beauty. Very nice job.
1 year ago
no Wes i can c y ur sayin dat cuz most of da carz dees dayz r all super bad 4 nature duno any big wordz but ya unlike dis car its A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) which is a hybrid vehicle that combines a conventional propulsion system with a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) which uses no gas = no increased pullotion in air
its aslo suppose2 be released in 2013
1 year ago
People are well informed and very hard to mislead these days so enough with concept cars! Show us something that works! And most importantly, something that's likely to be produced.
1 year ago
Sm folks, i mean engineers ar naturalli gifted to bring smtn unimaginable in2 reality, such ar bmw engineers. D world needs smtin diffrnt not sm old nd inefficient waste of time sm manufacturers called koncept kars. Kudos to bmw vision concept.
1 year ago
Great!
1 year ago
Today's generation is unstoppable in every aspects.This is possible due to development of technology,science.There was time where people have to travel on foot or have to use animals like horse,donkey,mule.But the generation of today's has been totally change.Within the certain time we can be anywhere of the world.Cars has become the easy means of transportation and the built in features ,accessories and the new modern technology has given a new shape and has increase the performance.
Automation Equipment
1 year ago
Wow its a road hawk..! Very stylish sports car, i think its also a BMW dream too.. thanks for sharing such nice piece of auto engineering...
1 year ago
I just don't understand why they can't make a car with the same body type and everything, but without a ton of special features so its affordable? Its annoying that if you want a car that looks amazing you have to crank out money for extra power. Just stick a V6 engine in it and call it good.
1 year ago
It looks like a future car in movie.
1 year ago
It seems a great sports car to drive
1 year ago
yeah seiriosly wat anomanyus said
1 year ago
Wow, What great car... I am so excited for this car.
Cheer!
1 year ago
Great Stuff Indeed! Thanks for sharing this info. I will share this blog to my cousin.
Thanks!
Lights
1 year ago
What would be the price?
48 weeks ago
BMW never stops astonishing me. This hybrid sports car looks unbelievable. I expect the release of this model almost like I expect a fantasy hockey finale. The engineers from BMW did a really good job. Even it's a prototype, with its features ,accessories and technology a cars passionate wouldn't wish for anything but this.
38 weeks ago
The 356-horsepower plug-in hybrid is an exciting looking car, this technology is cutting edge at it's best.
Darrell L Jackson
,
13 weeks ago
that is the most magnificent car i ever seen. i live that it is electric
11 weeks ago
fake
10 weeks ago
Now if you put Solar Energy Panels (PV) on your Home roof and car port you can drive
50 to 80 miles each day FREE. Energy From the Sun. Many are doing so all over the Earth.
Electric Cars and Hybrids Cars that run on Electric and some other fuel will soon out
sell all others. With the Help of Solar Energy and People around the Planet getting more
knowledge every day of it on the news and seeing it on more roofs everywhere. Those that
have the intelligence to see the good in Solar Energy are growing every day.
Solar Energy in the next year will out pass most all other forms of energy.
Right today November 22, 2011 under Solar Energy there is 19,000,000 websites and under
Images 1,520,000 for Solar Power plants.
For Coal power plants 1,290,000 under images.
For Hydro Power Plants 3,690,000 websites and 1,5000,000 under images.
Most in the World are re tooling to make Electric Hybrid Cars.
Iran is a Little slow do to its export of crude oil, oil is number one in that country
right behind that is their gas guzzler cars.
Now Israeli is making a Electric Hybrid that you will be able to drive anywhere in Europe
and in one tenth the time it would take to put gas in your car you can drive up and away
with a recharged Battery Pack. Like a cordless drill or Cordless Tool it would take out the
old and put in a recharged one back in in less then a minute in seconds just like the
Cordless Tool. You would pay for only the electric used the battery packs are owned by
the car manufacturer.
No more oil change stations or gas it will be a Battery exchange
station. For those that are driving cross country
the rest will be able to recharge at home or at work. Free from the Sun Energy Solar Energy (PV).
This kind of car is going to but and end for the need of OIL for most world wide very soon.
The Lord's Little Helper
Paul Felix Schott
7 weeks ago
this is not fake, i was watching TV (in singapore) i actually saw the advert... it was amazing lol
5 weeks ago
This car was in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and I must say it is impressive! 63 MPG! Wow, I can't wait for that to happen. It's probably going to be super pricey considering it has lift up doors like the Mercedes McLaren.
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