Hints from executives have kept the idea alive, and now BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has revealed that the company is working on a two-powertrain vehicle that is both combustion and electric-powered, to be targeted at major population centers.
The so-called 'mega-city' car will arrive in 2015, Reithofer told the German Die Zeit. Following next year's first BMW-branded hybrid in response to toughening environmental regulations and high fuel prices, the company will begin work on the car, suited more ideally for urban centers than highways.
"It'll be a car with a completely new look, with two engines available. One will be a very efficient internal combustion engine and the other will be a purely electric model," said Reithofer.
It's not yet clear if the car will be offered with parallel drive systems, such as those found in a series hybrid like the Chevrolet Volt, or simply with two separate powertrains, such as the Smart ForTwo, which is soon to be introduced in a purely electric form by its maker. The vagaries of translation, and corporate language, mean nothing is yet certain. At any rate, BMW board member Friedrich Eichener's previous statement that a decision on an electric car could be made this year has gained some clarity, at least in terms of what sort of vehicles are being considered.
Targeting the car toward a purely urban environment will help control brand image issues such a small car might engender, and could even give the company some much-needed green cachet beyond its interesting but impractical Hydrogen7 cars. Just a few months ago Reithofer spoke in-depth about the future of the company's powertrain lineup, including details on the hybrids set to arrive beginning next year.
Reader Comments
Thu Sep 11 2008 3:12 PM
re says
"die zeit" isn't daily^^
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