Most will agree that Germans make great cars. Their tenacity for perfection and focus on engineering almost always produces a quality high end product. BMW is certainly no exception to this rule, but when it comes to sustainability and the development of alternative fueled vehicles, they have been markedly quiet up until recently with the announcement of their ambiguous electric vehicle (EV) called the City, which didn’t receive that much attention. But BMW’s newest concept set to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show is sure garner a lot more than just attention.
Greetings Program. Hey, Nice Ride!
BMW’s latest foray into the world of fuel efficient cars comes in the form of a car that doesn’t really have a name, but more of a testing designation. It’s called the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept Car. For my sake, I’m going to refer to it from now on as the Vision. Looking like it could be a set prop from the upcoming Tron sequel, or something Buck Rogers may have fantasized about driving someday, the Vision is a 3 cylinder turbodiesel plugin hybrid that gets about 64mpg and has a top speed of around 155mph. Unlike current production plugin hybrids and EVs, the Vision can be fully charged in 2.5 hours. Some of it’s other features are:
BMW Stresses Sex Appeal Over Sustainability
Though BMW Senior Vice President Jan-Christiaan Koenders would lead you to believe that the Vision, in his words, “demonstrates that we are planning to be a leader in sustainability”, anyone taking a look at this futuristic wet dream could safely assume that no such car will ever get made nor be practical or affordable for the very people who are looking to purchase a fuel efficient hybrid vehicle. The car can only get 30 miles on electric mode only and the price of such a vehicle would make a Ferrari look like a bargain. No plans have been announced regarding production of the Vision nor the integration of its hybrid drive/aerodynamic technology. I know right; shocker.
The Good: It looks cool; charges fast, and goes fast. Perhaps something will be gleaned from it’s design for future vehicles.
The Bad: It will never be made; can only go 30 miles in electric mode, is impractical for the average driver; would cost a fortune.
The Bottom-Line: The Vision is a nice LOOKING concept, but if BMW wants to really show its commitment to becoming a sustainability leader then it needs to focus its time, money and energy on more practical and efficient designs.
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