When BMW unveiled the wild-looking Vision EfficientDynamics concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, one had to wonder: “Is this a pie-in-the-sky show car, or could it be tomorrow’s supercar?” According to an inside source at BMW, it’s the latter. And while a BMW eco supercar isn’t a reality tomorrow (or even next year), a car very similar to the Frankfurt concept could be on the road by 2015. Why? “Because the entire concept car is based on technology that BMW has already developed, or is currently developing,” said our source.
For instance, the Vision’s rear electric motor is from the 7 Series ActiveHybrid, while the front electric motor system is “feasible,” and the Vision’s 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbodiesel is apparently already in development. The technologies furthest from current reality are the lithium-polymer batteries and the Vision’s heat-energy-regenerating system, both of which are “about five years out.” Michelin is said to be hard at work developing new low-rolling-resistance tires that also provide good handling. Everything else on the concept could be produced, if only in small quantities. It follows that the Vision makes sense only as a supercar—undoubtedly an expensive one.
Also, don’t count on Lamborghini-like performance. Rather, the goal with the Vision is near-M3 acceleration, but with super high mileage and low emissions. A BMW official told us the Vision EfficientDynamics concept was “extremely well received and many potential customers have already asked us to build it.” We hear BMW will soon show a fully running demonstration prototype, as opposed to the electric-only show car we featured in our March 2010 issue.
For instance, the Vision’s rear electric motor is from the 7 Series ActiveHybrid, while the front electric motor system is “feasible,” and the Vision’s 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbodiesel is apparently already in development. The technologies furthest from current reality are the lithium-polymer batteries and the Vision’s heat-energy-regenerating system, both of which are “about five years out.” Michelin is said to be hard at work developing new low-rolling-resistance tires that also provide good handling. Everything else on the concept could be produced, if only in small quantities. It follows that the Vision makes sense only as a supercar—undoubtedly an expensive one.
Also, don’t count on Lamborghini-like performance. Rather, the goal with the Vision is near-M3 acceleration, but with super high mileage and low emissions. A BMW official told us the Vision EfficientDynamics concept was “extremely well received and many potential customers have already asked us to build it.” We hear BMW will soon show a fully running demonstration prototype, as opposed to the electric-only show car we featured in our March 2010 issue.
