BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics Production Sports Car In Development: Report

The rumour mill is alive again with talk of a BMW Vision EfficientDynamics-inspired sports car. While rumours earlier this year suggested a 2013 launch date for BMW's plug-in hybrid sports car, new reports this week claim production is now locked in.

According to the reports, the new BMW will feature a carbon-fibre chassis, wearing either an i1 or i100 badge.

While earlier reports suggested a conventional turbo-charged petrol engine would provide motivation, an unnamed source at BMW has reportedly confirmed that the new model will remain true to its hybrid roots.

Drawing power from a hybrid system similar to that seen in the concept - producing 265kW and 800Nm of torque via its 1.5 litre 3-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and electric motors - a 0-100km/h time lower than 5.0 seconds is expected.

As part of a recent campaign to drum up interest for its latest project, BMW released teaser footage of a streamlined and camouflaged car bearing more than a passing resemblance to the popular Vision EfficientDynamics concept.

The video offers little in the way of details and, of course, no launch date, but BMW invited viewers to visit its Facebook page and sign up for the chance to drive the new model.

According to German magazine AutoBild, BMW will build only a limited run of around 5000 to 10,000 units.

If BMW does put the concept into production, it would join other alternatively-powered sports and supercars such as the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell, the Audi e-tron and the Porsche 918 Spyder - the confirmed production of each no doubt adding impetus for BMW to follow suit.