OK, I said I love cars.I REALLY love fast cars.
Like kick-in-the-pants fast.
But a Hybrid?
First: Ok, I noted the fabulous MotoCzysz creation a few days ago and neglected to mention to you Oregon readers that they call Portland home! (Seventhgear Autosport's home base...) To you non-Oregon readers.....neeener neeener neeeeenerrr! Just kidding.
Now...PART 2:
Just as the MotoCzysz creation was hitting the track at the Isle of Man TT race last year, another fantastic hybrid concept made it's debut. Specifically, a wicked concept for a turbo-diesel-electric-hybrid from the 'skinny glasses-n-lab coat wearing' geniuses at Bayerische Motoren Werke. Otherwise known as ... BMW. This is the first car that I have ever seen that really made me excited to see a hybrid. It's interesting, it's fast, it's efficient, and it actually would be possible to use something similar, with our current automotive infrastructure in place. Novel, eh?
Yes, the Germans have done it. They have produced a seriously high powered, feasible hybrid.
Named the 'BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept' (mouthful, yes...) it boasts over 355 hp and a WICKED 590 ft/lbs of torque. For those of you who don't nerd out on this stuff, the horsepower is really nice but it's the torque that really gives you the seat of the pants rush under acceleration. This car apparently does not disappoint. Sporting a look right out of the yet to be released "Tron" sequel, this car talks the talk AND walks the walk.
It is equipped with an innovative power source, including electric motors at both the front and rear axle, and a 3 cylinder turbodiesel, internal combustion engine.
This powerplant provides the car with serious performance, on par with their famed M3 models. Yes, that means a 0-60 time in 4.8 seconds, and an electronically limited 155 mph top speed (the same as all US spec BMW M3s). You would think that all of this performance would burn through fuel quickly. Well, you'd be mistaken. The rated fuel consumption is a stingy 62 MPG. Quite a difference from the 16 MPG the M3 gets.
In addition to the turbo diesel engine, the car is equipped with a dual 'plug in hybrid/ regenerative braking' electric drive system. Meaning, it generates SOME of it's own electrical power and also is plugged into the wall in your garage. The electric component of the drivetrain will last a full fuel tank cycle before needing any charge.
I've not seen anything like this proposed by any of the major manufacturers, and BMW should be proud that they are pushing the envelope of speed, power, and efficiency.
As for the aesthetic design of the car itself, I'm a big fan. It's way, way forward thinking and I appreciate seeing something different. You'll notice a LOT of glass in the design. It's actually polycarbonate, photosensitive panel that changes tint depending on solar exposure (think of those glasses that automatically darken when you walk outside).
Is it buildable on a mass production scale as it sits? Heck no. It's a very intricate design that would cost a fortune to make a million examples of. Well then, what's the point? You can bet that you'll see design cues and engineering breakthroughs achieved with this concept, on future road-going models from BMW.
Perhaps someday we'll see it on the road!
No comments:
Post a Comment