BMW Debuts Plug-in Concept Car in Beijing

Published: 24-Apr-2014

A BMW concept car revealed at the Beijing Auto Show has given a glimpse of the company’s template for luxury cars of the future.

Lightweight materials, slippery aerodynamics, lasers, and augmented reality all play a part in the BMW Vision Future Luxury, although perhaps the most portentous aspect of the concept is signaled by a small ‘eDrive’ badge on the tailgate and a second ‘fuel’ filler cap that hides a plug socket.

While BMW’s official documentation makes no note of the Vision Future Luxury’s clever powertrain, it’s clear that plug-in hybrid hardware lurks beneath the carbon fiber bodywork. The German automaker is currently readying the technology for a launch in the X5 SUV, giving it an electric range of 20 miles and the potential for sky-high fuel economy, and it’s becoming apparent that electrification will be synonymous with luxury in coming years.

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