In a recent interview with the folks at Insideline, a “senior BMW authority out of Munich” has stated that the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept plug-in hybrid that wowed the crowds at last year’s Frankfurt Auto Show will go into production.
The remarkable concept is powered by a 1,5-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel engine working in conjunction with two electric motors to develop 265 kW and close to 800 N.m of torque. Mated with a version of the M-DCT dual-clutch transmission lifted from the current M3, this powertrain propels the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept from zero to 100 km/h in 4,8 seconds and on to an electronically-limited 250 km/h top speed.
While the topic of price (especially with regards to such technology as the lithium polymer battery set up) has yet to be broached, the BMW insider was a bit more candid regarding production volumes and design direction.
The total volume has been speculatively pegged at around 5 000 to 10 000 units, while the concept’s basic lightweight assembly and powerplant will make their way onto the production model practically untouched. One feature that will not find its way onto the production model is the extensive glazing – as the source puts it, “there will be less of the synthetic glass and more solid structure added to the final design”. If so, it’s a fair bet that the complex construction of the concept’s aerodynamic rear will also follow suit.
The insider also hinted that the production vehicle will be a true successor to the original M1 and that BMW are feverishly working on the Vision EfficientDynamics’ powerplant ahead of a mid-year driving event in southern France in an attempt to shave some time off the already-impressive 4,8 second 0-100 km/h performance.
So it’s going to lose much of the glass, but retain much of the tech…will that tongue-twisting name also survive? According to the source it won’t. “And that name that the marketing people forced on us,” said the source, “that’s going to change for sure.”
It’s doubtful the M1 moniker will be dusted off for this particular model, but something that doesn’t require one to draw breath before the “EfficientDynamics” part will be most welcome.
