BMW's 118mpg concept
12.10.2009 - Vijay Pattni
(9)
BMW has done it again - the Bavarian behemoth has produced another record-breaking concept vehicle with headline-grabbing stats.
The 'Simple' concept weighs just 450kgs - about half the weight of a Lotus Elise - and is powered by a 48bhp combustion engine - which returns 118mpg on the combined cycle.
The 0-62mph sprint "is estimated at under ten seconds", and the three-wheeled concept benefits from a low drag coefficient of 0.18 - so glides through the air more easily.
Simple takes its name from BMW's design project acronym, translating as "a sustainable and innovative mobility product for low energy consumption".
The designers took inspiration from cars when creating the passenger 'cell', while motorbikes provided the background for the concept's ultra-slim design - just 110cm wide - and tandem seating configuration.
But while the Simple concept explores record mpg figures, another BMW concept called 'Clever' aims at achieving super-low emissions.
Clever stands for "compact low emission vehicle for urban transport", and is another design brief where BMW engineers had to make a practical low-emission city car.
The three metre-long three-wheeler weighs less than 400kg and is fitted with a 0.23-litre single-cylinder engine producing 17bhp, powered by natural and compressed gas.
The two-seat concept vehicle uses the steering from BMW's Z4 roadster and accelerates from 0-37mph (60km/h) in seven seconds, and maxes out at around 62mph.
The most astonishing thing about the CLEVER concept however, is its emissions. It reportedly produces no more than 60g/100km of CO2.
Both the Simple and Clever concepts are on display at BMW's Munich-based museum.
