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It may be less than a year since BMW launched its i8 hybrid sports car, but rumours are already swirling about an even more efficient model.
They claim the German automaker is developing a prototype car that can do a staggering 706 miles per imperial gallon (588 miles per US gallon).
It's said that the rumoured hybrid will be lighter than the i8 but less performance focused, making it slower than the new sports car.
Rumours suggest BMW is developing a prototype car that can do a staggering 706 miles per imperial gallon (588 miles per US gallon) which is more efficient than its new i8 model (pictured)
BMW's prototype will be able to travel 62 miles (100km) on just 0.4 litres of fuel due to its hybrid electric engine, Automobilwoche reported, viaDigital Trends.
By comparison, the i8 plug-in hybrid does 134.5 mpg (112 US mpg) thanks to its frugal 1.5 litre, three cylinder, 231 brake horsepower petrol engine and 131 brake horsepower electric unit.
Not much is known about the unnamed new vehicle's engine, but it doesn't seem it will be a fully electric model.
It's said that the rumoured hybrid will be lighter than the i8 but less performance focused, making it slower than the new sports car (pictured)
VOLKSWAGEN'S XL1VW's 'super efficient' XL1 went on sale in January last year and can do 313 miles per gallon.
The two-seat diesel-electric hybrid car emits 24 g/km of carbon dioxide, which the German auto manufacturer says sets a new benchmark for vehicle efficiency.
The XL1 was designed from scratch and is lightweight as som e steel components, including the chassis, have been replaced by carbon fibre so that the car weighs in at just 1,753 lbs (795kg).
The car's powered by a compact 800 cc two-cylinder diesel engine and together with the 20kW electric motor, it car can travel over 600 miles (965km) on a single tank of fuel.
In pure electric mode, the XL1 can travel up to 21 miles (35km) before the diesel engine cuts in.
The car can go from 0-60mph in 11.9 seconds and its electronically limited top speed is 99 mph (159km/h).
The XL1 is 'handcrafted' using small series production processes and is sold in Germany for €111,000 (£92,490).
It would instead combine a two cylinder petrol engine that runs as a range-extending generator with an electric motor situated on the car's rear axle.
This would make the powertrain similar to the company's i3 Rex model, Green Car Reports noted.
Sources also suggest the car will be a four-seater with a shell that's reinforced with carbon fibre – like its i3 and i8 production cars.
It could would less than 2,645 lbs (1,200kg), compared to the i8, which is 3,455 lbs (1,567 kg).
And while it won't be performance-focused it would still have a top speed of 112mph (180km/h).
The only other comparable concept car is Volkswagen's XL1, which is a plug-in diesel hybrid that can do 313 mpg.
However, VW's research project is a two-seater and is said to have a slightly higher drag co-efficient of 0.19 than BMW's 0.18, making it a tiny bit less efficient.
BMW's prototype car will probably remain a concept, because produc ing it on a large scale would likely be too expensive.
But it's hoped that some of the technology will trickle down to future i-Series models.
The only other comparable concept car to BMW's rumoured hybrid prototype is Volkswagen's XL1 (pictured), which is a plug-in diesel hybrid that can do 313 mpg.
RAY MASSEY TEST DRIVES THE i8 ELECTRIC HYBRIDThe Daily Mail's car correspondent says BMW's i8, which has just gone on sale, takes smugness to a new level, but also makes electric cars look and feel cool.
It's beautifully put together with a streamlined lightweight carbon fibre and aluminium body and 20 inch alloy wheels and gull-winged doors, he says.
The car is easy to drive with a start button and six speed automatic 'drive' mode, with an option for the driver to use F1 style paddles too.
It goes from rest to 62mph (100km/h) in 4.4 seconds with top speed limited to 155mph.
The Daily Mail's car correspondent says BMW's i8 (pictured), which has just gone on sale, takes smugness to a new level, but also makes electric cars look and feel cool.
Power comes from a frugal 1.5 litre, three cylinder, 231 bhp, twin-turbo, petrol engine over the rear axle linked to a 131bhp electric unit over the front axle.
It's a 'plug-in' hybrid so drivers can charge the vehicle at home or at a charging station.
It also generates electric power on the move from braking and deceleration.
Pure electric mode gives drivers about 23 miles with a top speed of 75 mph (121 km/h).
The 'comfort' setting sees the petrol engine kic k in at 37 mph (60km/h).
Sport mode gives top performance with the full engine growl, plus the faint, but discernable high-pitched whine of the electric motor.
Average fuel consumption of 134.5mpg (112 US mpg) and CO2 emissions of 49g/km claimed by BMW, but it depends how you drive it.
The car costs from £94,845 ($150,869). Pierce Brosnan and Amir Khan are proud owners.
Source: Is BMW working on an electric car that could do 706 miles per gallon? Hybrid may also reach 111mph, rumours suggest
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