There are rumors floating around that BMW has built a concept car that gets 588 miles per gallon. Very little is known about this BMW concept, except that is said to be a four-door car that weighs about 2,600 pounds. Sources say it uses a two-cylinder range extender gas engine and an electric motor for the rear wheels. That sounds a lot like the powertrain for a BMW i3 REx, doesn’t it?
Supposedly, the car is built mostly of reinforced carbon fiber, just like the i3 and i8. Unlike the i8, it is focused on basic transportation instead of scintillating performance, but it still has a top speed of 112 miles per hour, according to Green Car Reports.
This BMW concept is meant for research only; the company has no plans to put it into production. Still, there are other rumors that BMW is working on a new car that will slot into its “i” family of sustainable cars between the i3 and the i8. BMW says that car will not be ready before 2020. Interestingly enough, the second generation i3 is due in 2020 as well. Is the rumored concept a hint at what the next “i” car will be like, an ultra-efficient family sedan?
Emissions and fuel economy standards will become far more rigorous in the US and Europe by the time 2020 gets here. No doubt the secret BMW concept is exploring ways the company can hit those targets while still providing a satisfactory driving experience.
The mass adoption of electric cars is probably not going to take place as soon as governments and green car advocates might like. In the interim, while we wait for battery prices to come down and for electric charging infrastructure to get built, BMW is serving notice that it intends to have cars available for sale that meet all foreseeable standards by the time those standards go into effect.
A four-door passenger car that gets more than 500 mpg? Where do I sign up?
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