BMW Vision

Meet the BMW M3 of the future. This is the Vision EfficientDynamics, an eye-grabbing concept that will debut at next month’s Frankfurt motor show and which showcases a host of the brand’s existing and future technologies.

BMW describes it as a 'symbol for the future of sheer driving pleasure', and says it can combine the performance of a BMW M Car with a standard of fuel economy exceeding the market’s current small cars.

M Division purists may need a good sit down first, though, because the similarities between this and the current M3 pretty much end at the four wheels and fitment of propeller badges.

The headlines go to the Vision’s powertrain – it’s a diesel electric hybrid. And it’s not just any run-of-the-mill diesel that features; it’s a 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder turbo unit. While combined with the two electric motors it produces a more than potent 351bhp and 590lb ft, it’s a power source that would struggle to differ further from the rev-happy naturally aspirated petrol engines that have been a hallmark of past M Cars.

There’s an electric motor at both front and rear axles, aiding weight distribution but also sparking more debate – the Vision is effectively all-wheel drive. The engine is mid-mounted (despite there being two back seats) and comes mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, a newly developed (and economy-biased) version of the gearbox that sits in current BMWs.

Interestingly, the car’s key performance figures are identical to the current M3 Coupe. Top speed is a limited 155mph, while 0-62mph takes 4.8sec. Where the old car is really embarrassed is in the sensible numbers – the Vision boasts a combined 75.1mpg and carbon emissions of 99g/km, making it a cleaner bet than a Citroen C1.

The Vision can run on electric power only (with a 31-mile range), diesel only (400 miles) or a mix of the two, with infinite variations of how the hybrid system sources its power.

Styling is very much dictated by aerodynamics, with an abundance of technology (some of it F1-inspired) to keep the drag coefficient down to just 0.22. It’s achieved via a variety of ducts and air deflectors (including the A-pillars, which channel air across the car and over the rear lights) and a completely smooth, covered underfloor. Note the signature kidney grille and twin headlights remain, allowing (from dead-on front, at least) the Vision to boast some conventionality.

Its proportions aren’t far off a present-day M3, with a 4.6m length, 1.9m width and 1.24m height playing the current car’s respective 4.5m, 1.8m and 1.4m. Where the concept excels is weight – it comes in at 1395kg, over 300kg less than an M3. While some of that will be down to a lighter powerplant, the Vision has the weight of batteries to contend with, and uses a completely aluminium chassis and suspension system and polycarbonate glass to slice mass.

As you’d expect with a showy, gullwing-doored concept there’s other trick technology to shout about too. The exhaust system contains a Thermo-Electric Generator, which converts thermal energy in the tailpipe emissions into electric power to feed back into the car. It works, too, having been tested on a 5-series mule. There’s also an energy management system, which uses a number of variables – rain sensors, information on the sat nav and the adaptive cruise control – to forecast upcoming driving conditions and prepare the car (and its power sources) for them.

It’s all very intriguing, and points the way to an impressive – if controversial – possible future for the BMW M Car. You can see which side of the fence you sit on at the Frankfurt motor show, which opens on September 15 and sees the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept revealed for the first time.

Aston Martin DBS Volante

It's a vehicle that could be perfection itself with its 6.0-liter V-12 engine, 510 hp and 420 pound-feet of torque. Too bad the audio and climate controls are pathetic for this caliber of sports car.

I understand the Aston Martin DBS Volante is not for everybody. Not everyone will care for a $300,000, 12-cylinder, open-top super car that looks like love feels and sounds like whiskey tastes.


Yes, of course it's a car for rich jackasses, preening showoffs and enviro-criminals. Really, what part of Aston Martin don't you understand?

But here's the thing: Aston will build only about 500 of these cars a year for the whole wide world; that's about 1 DBS Volante for every 400,000 square miles of dry land on Earth. These cars will, with rare exception, spend perpetuity in collectors' garages, venturing out only for the occasional weekend drive or jaunt to the polo field. Unless you live in Bel-Air or Abu Dhabi, your odds of seeing one in the flesh are slimmer than the chances a Nigerian oil minister will deposit millions into your bank account.

The DBS Volante is not, in other words, a real car, in the sense that it doesn't exist in the same Chevy-and-Honda world that you and I occupy. It's a legend, a myth, a beau ideal, a 510-hp unicorn of an automobile. You don't have to like it. You don't even have to believe in it. But you've got to concede the world is a more wonderful place for it.

The Volante is the convertible version of the DBS Coupe (James Bond's car in "Quantum of Solace, by the way), which is itself a high-performance version of the DB9. The DBS coupe gets 40 more horsepower than the DB9, as well as a thorough stiffening of the chassis and suspension. The Volante backs off a bit from the coupe's flinty, pure sports-car character. For one thing, the folding top mechanism adds about 200 pounds to the weight of the car. Also, the Volante is a 2-plus-2 car whereas 2-plus-2 seating is only an option with the coupe.

Typically, when coupes are turned into convertibles, manufacturers have to reinforce the chassis to compensate for the loss of structural rigidity provided by the roof. (That's why convertibles are always heavier than their coupe siblings).

The lungs are the same -- both the DBS Coupe and the Volante use the same race-bred 6.0-liter V-12, with 510 hp and 420 pound-feet of torque. My test car was equipped with a six-speed, paddle-shifted ZF automatic transmission -- not an automated manual, like the Ferrari California. The automatic works beautifully, of course, but enthusiasts might miss the sharper edge of manual transmission.

Both cars have Aston's variable-length exhaust system. In the Volante, under acceleration, when the engine revs reach about 3,800 rpm, a bypass valve opens up and wild, feral decibels come pouring out, though not exactly a snarl. It's more refined, brighter, more metallic, richer and more musical; the chain saw you'd use to cut down the Enchanted Forest. Like if you could somehow catch the Perseids on a tea service . . .

The top mechanism itself is excellent. The acoustically matted canvas top retracts in a brief 14 seconds, more than quick enough to lower the top at a stoplight (the top will also operate up to speed of 30 mph). The deck tonneau integrates low humps for the roll bars that pop up if the car senses an incipient rollover "event" -- and what an event that would be.

The interior is beautifully constructed and highly imperfect. For starters, the small LCD navigation panel that emerges out of the dash is dated and not all that user-friendly.


Also, the interior's piano-black wood reflects blinding sunlight into the driver's eyes, top up or down. Aston's audio and climate controls and LCD display are pathetic for this caliber of car. To the good, my test car was trimmed in gorgeous chocolate-brown leather hand-stitched with thick cord. Sensational.


How does the Volante drive? Exquisitely. Big, powerful, quick and seriously, three-digit fast. The steering is razor sharp. The carbon-ceramic brakes are freaking land anchors. There's serious grip everywhere. But the Volante is never less than utterly, magically refined.


If there's a complaint to be made it's that this stupefyingly expensive sports car never really boils one's blood. There's no warning, no address of adrenaline, no clue you're going too fast -- until you hear the sirens wailing behind you.

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