01 September 2009 - 11:00
Layery little number
See more Vision EfficientDynamics concept pics
If you wondered how the next generation of BMWs would look, following styling guru Chris Bangle’s departure earlier this year, here’s your first hint.
This is the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept, a plug-in turbodiesel hybrid set to debut in Frankfurt in a couple of weeks time. It serves as both a preview of future BMW styling, but also a showcase for BMW’s lightweight and hybrid technologies.
BMW says the VED (we’re not writing that clunky long name again, sorry) will manage M3 performance with Mini levels of fuel economy. It has roughly the same dimensions as a 3-Series coupe, but with a considerably swoopier roofline.
It’s light, too. The VED weighs in at just under 1400kg – not bad for a 2+2 coupe with massive butterfly doors.
The VED is powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel – essentially half of the unit in a 330d – developing 163bhp and 214lb ft of torque. This engine is expected to debut in the 1-Series in a couple of years’ time before making its way into the bigger 3-Series.
But there’s more. A pair of electric motors drive the front and rear wheels independently, the front motor returning 34bhp and 214lb ft of torque, with the rear motor managing 80bhp and 162lb ft of torque. That means the VED is capable of an overall output of 356bhp and a massive 590lb ft of twist.
That’s good for a 0-62mph time of 4.8 seconds – right on M3 money – while returning 75mpg and just under 100g/km of CO2. Impressive numbers.
The VED can run for 30 miles on electric power alone, but will manage a further 400 miles in hybrid mode. BMW says the 85kg battery pack will recharge in around two and a half hours from a standard mains plug, but that this could be reduced to just 45 minute with a 380-volt connection.
Inevitably, though, much talk will focus on the VED’s styling. BMW design boss Adrian van Hooydonk describes it as ‘layered surfacing’, saying it creates a ‘more cohesive and harmonious appearance’ while also optimising aero flow.
BMW is clear that the VED doesn’t preview a single upcoming car, but instead introduces styling ideas that could feature across the range over the next few years.
Bearing in mind that the most extreme elements of the VED will become toned down for production… what do you think?
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this thing is sweet man!!!!!!!!!!! so damn eco-friendly!!!!!!!!!!! I just love it!!!! the style and paintjob rocks!!!!!!! the rims are simply the best!!!!! running costs..................... this list will never end! :) :)
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It works now but it will just lead to a range of cars that look exactly like the new Z4. At least its better than the horrific Gina.
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What a gloriously OTT piece of design. It looks like it should be in a sci-fi movie, doors open or not. The headlights are reminiscent of the recent M1 Hommage Concept, too. Underneath are somec very clever ideas, too. If they make an M3 Compact in 3-5 years time...
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Btw this is not the first hint of for future BMW designs. this new concept is almost identical to the M1 concept presented at the "Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2008"
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Anyone else getting hints of Camaro about the front end?
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sorry Mikeado I just noticed your comment now I feel like a bit of an idiot... wt
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Hmmmmmmmm.....not sure bout that one! I can't really decide bout it
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They're not kidding about 'layered surfacing' are they? It's got more layers than a sack of onions. Of course it's concept level bonkers stuff but it does look good enough for a sci-fi flick as said above. On future models...there's a hint of 8-series to the front end with the short but wide BMW double grille and I always thought the 8-series was a gorgeous car so I approve of that if carried on. Most important aspect is the engine tech though, and as a way of showcasing what sounds like a v. impressive set of achievements it's got to be applauded......
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@Dann, no hint of Camaro. BMW is not inspired by the wonderful work of G.M. However, there is a lot of influences from the M1 Concept. Torque and Power. So the front e-motors generate less BHP but more torque than the rear e-motors? Could it be a missprint that front motors generate the same 214 lb ft as the diesel engine? All though 214 214 162 = 590
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Well at least there consistently fugly with there cars. Uhg.
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Actually, I'm thinking of this more as a successor to the original Z1. That had new tech - Z-axle suspension rather than powerplant - and entertaining doors too ... Nice one BMW. Cheers.
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concepts always look ggood remember gina? shame they dont make them
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That's not design, that's just showing off...
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Build it and put a bloody petrol engine it. I cant be arsed with all this sodding hyrid & diesel crap.
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Give it good handeling, a big NON-HYBRID V10 petrol engine & a top speed the exiting side of 170 and i promise ill buy one.
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@the_truth: Ford built the Verve and Volkswagen put the Iroc in production. Sure, a few things got changed/added/removed, but overall the cars on the road look a lot like the concepts they are based on. Okay, so those two concepts were a lot more realistic than this BMW, but it does happen occasionally.
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this car so beuotiful
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Yaaaaaaaa!!!...thats what im talking about....Love it...The Style the Shape the Coloure the Rims and that Blue Neon Light in the front grill.....its Beuterfule....Love it....its Cool.. Just found this Vid on youtube its about this BMW Vision Concept....Hafe to see..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Ul3JyypCw&feature=fvw
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Porbably the best looking eco car around and its a bimmer.
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OOOOOOO id buy that.
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it'll be a fortune like all hybrids. then again, no congestion charges either
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A fantastic piece of design, one that will be remembered and for the right reasons.
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I think the design is a absolute horror, with the layers and that blue metallic grill. And is there anyone who wants to sit in a car with glass doors? Imagine you want to scratch your... whatever indecent part of your body while waiting at a trafficlight. I love the engine part though. But I still don't understand why they don't use a small dieselengine to power the electric motors permanent?
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That's certainly an amazing design, a real car like that might make hybrids more attractive.
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Ok so it does 75 mpg, and yes it doesn't take long to charge, but what is the point again? Don't u need to use these ever declining fossil fuels to make electricity to charge this thing, and therefore making it pointless, plus who would rather listen to a durecell over a v8? Looks preety sweet though.
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hello. the car is beautiful but those rims... omg... they look like a cover of a pan... and plus, they made a three cylinder engine??? with 1.5 litre??? common... my grandmother starlet can be faster than that... :S... in a few years they made what? a 2 litre with just one cylinder... to be honest, i love the car... but the 2 disadvantages are those rims and the engine... they could be better...
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The most progressive concept car I have seen so far. I f you really look closely at it, the car has no fancy air dams, large scoops or huge rear spoilers but it is aerodynamically efficient ( they say 0.22 coefficient of drag ) - all those floating and layered surfaces doubles as wings, skirts and vents to aid airflow, fantastic design from BMW. And 0 to 100kph in 4.8 sec./roughly 75mpg for a 1.5 3cyl. turbo-diesel aided by 2 electric motors that is quite a feat.
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Can somebody explain how 163bhp diesel 34bhp front motor 80bhp rear motor produce 356bhp total quoted in the story? Did I miss something?
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och aye 'tis nice.
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wow that looks amazing all you need now is a laser gun and a spandex suit and you could be from the future!
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it looks like some weird origami
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Why are there people complaining about the way this car is powered? It's a design and, most of all, a technology showcase; not a way to show what car makers have been doing for ages. I like a big screaming petrol engined supercar just like pretty much everyone here, but if this one would be like that, it would not bring anything new or interesting to the game. Anyway... I don't particularly like BMWs but this one I find impressive. It must be a pain to wash though, with all those layers... And yes, those headlights remind me too of the Camaro.
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From front, this thing reminds me of Alfa Romeo, those lights in particular. From the back, this thing reminds me that this still is a BMW and the pure awfulness is still there. Those backlights do look good aswell, though..
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omg Its amazing - i just wis it was a proper car not a hybrid. :( it looks fantastic though - good job BMW!
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Great, great! Brilliant. Its a Bimmer, leading the world again and saving the world. It also thrills and inspires, amazing piece of engineering, fantastic. I promise to buy one if it sees the production line. BMW as usual. More High Tech than U.S Airforce 1. The layered surfaces act as several aerodynamic components. No more side skirts, air vents, spoilers, etc. Absolute magic.
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Hope the looks catches on, I think its awsome. Almost as awsome as Jezza`s new song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY9u0LxIWJk&eurl=http://www.finalgear.com/&feature=player_embedded#t=178 Haha priceless:D
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So how fast would it be if they didnt bother making it so green. i'm all for green cars for the mases but i would also like some more speed
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Better than a Bangle mangle. Looks rather derivative of the Mazda Furai concept, but that's no bad thing. I like it. And a turbodiesel hybrid makes so much more sense than petrol - and electric motors are great for low speed acceleration, so it all sounds like good performance to me. And with more (electric) power at the back than the front, should have the potential for great, rear-biased handling.
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Cool! the back reminds me a lot of the Bertone Mantide most people disliked.... go figure, I still like that Brera-meets-Giger vibe.
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I only have one problem with this concept, its a concept and as with all concepts they look amazing but there is that little annoying part of your brain known as common sense that tells you it wont look anything like that (check out some of ferrairs concepts they are amazing), its the same with any concept car they showroom version is always a diluted version of what you see before you and i think its a disgrace to the designers making them design that and saying 'er no well make this version as its cheaper and looks abit like your design' i can only think of one car in recent history that looked almost exactly like its concept and that was the furai!! So hats of BMW its a stunning looking thing BUT PLEASE PLEASE LET IT LOOK LIKE THIS!!! FULL BUTTERFLY DOORS AND EVERYTHING!! OTHERWISE WE WILL SEND JEZZA DOWN TO BONE YOUR DOG!!
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More like lots of sheet metal being folded into one another. Looks great, if not too extreme. But hey, why not? =]
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How can they expect us to care when it looks so unreal? It's already unbelievable and unrelatable before I even read the article.
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Just to add to my previous lack of enthusiasm - the things people are all amped about (blue lights, scissor doors, paint job, wheels) I can absolutely guarantee you will NEVER make it into production. When they say this showcases the new design direction for BMW they mean that in the same way that the new Mazda 3 looks like the Mazda Furai concept (when's the last time your girded your loins over a Mazda 3?). Don't get me wrong, I'm excited that the Bangle era is over, but I'll get excited about new BMW styling when I see it on a 3 series not the next mars-lander.
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The car desing is good but the engine is diesel!!! I don't like the r8 v12 tdi and I don't like any diesel engine!!!
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It look great, but we all know there never going to make it
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It look great, but we all know there never going to make it
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It look great, but we all know there never going to make it
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whoa ! totally love it
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Looks like a cross between GT by Citroen and the Isetta concept they did with the rubber skin. Would love to see BMW do a proper mental 2 2 like this and get away from the relentlessly good saloons.
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That just gave my eyes herpes.
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I do like this... I think I may like it more than the M1 Hommage & Gina Concept
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I think they should just build it the way they designed it to look in the first place instead of toning concepts down every time. It looks great! Everyone always says looks great, so why not build it?
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HAHAHA if anything was going to save GM it would have been the chevy volt but looks like the Germans came out with a quicker charging, nearly equally efficient, and more practical application and design for chevy volt like technologies before the volt has even come out! Did i mention that the Germans' answer to an eco friendly car of the future is a 356bhp and 590lb of twist race car thats as good at doing what a chevy volt does as a chevy volt is and is also as good at doing what am M3 does as an M3 is? Sorry but as an engineering student that just makes me hard. Anyways goodbye gm. Is it just me or is it starting to look like German, Japanese, and Italian car companies are going to destroy America's economy and thus destroy America all together? hmmm when have I seen these three counties team up before... OH MY GOD NO!!!
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midget321 commented on this article
01 September 2009
it looks good! the sooner this is in the showrooms the better
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