BMW's latest design and powertrain study may have a clinical-sounding name, but beneath that avant-garde skin and lab-coat-tested powertrain beats the heart of an ultimate driving machine
Posted 08.31.2009 at 10:18 am
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BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept Car
With its Vision EfficientDynamics concept, BMW projects how its hybrid and engine-efficiency technologies might couple with the company's Formula One racing tech and avant-garde design. BMW says the resulting two-door, diesel-electric sports car pulls fuel efficiency of 63 mpg while getting from zero to 60 mph in a quick 4.8 seconds.
BMW
BMW's new experimental vehicle may get 63 miles on a gallon of diesel and can travel 31 miles in all-electric mode, but it also scores in the performance realm -- with a zero-to-60-mph time in the de rigueur modern sports-car range of under five seconds.
Fans of progressive auto design will likely cock an eye at its posturing curves and layered surfaces, but the big story is the Vision's plug-in hybrid drive system, which pairs two electric motors with a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder turbodiesel engine, together producing 356 horsepower.
The 3,000-pound Vision showcases BMW's latest high-profile R&D efforts -- including its ActiveHybrid drive technology set to arrive in its 7-Series sedan this year and its EfficientDynamics tech by which the company says it aims to cut fuel consumption without sacrificing driving dynamics. This by now-common features like automatic start-stop and brake energy regeneration. One notable example on the new concept of what BMW is calling EfficientDynamics is a new thermo-electric generator that can convert heat energy from the car's exhaust into 200 watts of electric power. The Vision also employs BMW's Formula 1 aerodynamics developments, by which engineers achieved a slippery drag coefficient of 0.22 (the Toyota Prius's is 0.25).
BMW plans to unveil the Vision EfficientDynamics concept at the Frankfurt motor show in early September.
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>> new thermo-electric generator that can convert heat energy from the car's exhaust into 200 watts of electric power.
Where can I get one?!
Well, it would be a more efficient expensive toy than their other expensive toys.
But, since it's main purpose is driving for the sheer joy of it, I doubt that it really reduces the old carbon footprint.
Well it's amazing what can i say!!!
Well it's amazing what can i say!!!
who new the future looked so good?
AND GREEN?!?!
Only 14 but sign me up!
-DaSonicMan
In 20 years BMW Design maintains the visual spirit it has now and has gone on to discover new meanings for the cars and motorcycles that proudly wear its blue-white propeller. BMW design continues to set the benchmark and remains the place designers dream to work.
www.unclepayday.com
Coolest Gadgets. These will be a hit, not just with remote control enthusiasts, but if marketed well the younger members and not so young will take this to their streets this Christmas.
http://www.meritcarhire.co.uk/
Wow, this car is very cool. Amazing! http://www.amerisleep.com/