BMW is on a roll with its fleet-wide showcase of developments. Last week, it was the Mini. Now, they’re on to their own fleet. This here’s their own take of what “green” and “sporty,” when combined, should be – the Vision Efficient Dynamics concept.

It’s basically a diesel-electric hybrid. The fossil-fueled engine’s a 1.5L turbocharged 3-cylinder diesel that will eventually be found in 2011 1-series but BMW found a good use for it now in this green concept.

Amazingly, the wee diesel motor is even more powerful than the current-generation 2.0L 4-cylinder turbodiesel dishing out 163 bhp and 214 lb-ft of torque. In a car like the 1-Series, that’s already a handful. To complete the powertrain, the powerplant combo is mated to a seven-speed double-clutch gearbox.

The diesel if mated to a pair of electric motors. The electric motors then power either the front and rear wheels via single speed reduced-ration transmissions. When combined with the trubo-diesel the system can dish out as much as 356 bhp.

That much power combined with a lightweight body construction and aerodynamics allows the car to go from 0-62 mph in just 4.8 seconds and to its limited top speed of 155 mph. That’s enough to match the current M3.

The concept is set to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Source: Autocar