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The BMW Megacity Vehicle is being developed to change the way BMW vehicles will be built in the future. It is a step towards a more efficient and eco-friendly vehicle that the world needs. There are various elements that we need to know about the Megacity Vehicle.
The first element is the drive construction. The vehicle will be divided into two sections called ‘life’ and ‘drive’. The section called life is the carbon fiber passenger cell developed by BMW. For those who worry about high repair cost for the carbon fiber cell, BMW will make the bonnet and wings from injection-moulded plastics which are cheaper to repair. The other section called drive will be the aluminum chassis. This aluminum chassis made of aluminum castings and extrusions cost less to build and is very flexible. The possibility of a longer wheelbase or a seven seater Megacity Vehicle is reachable because of this. Aside from that, it is rigid and improved suspension, steering, and handling. Tests have proven that damage will be insignificant in case of accidents because of structural foam in the sill’s void. It can also be easily repaired.
The battery will be positioned on the cabin floor, mounted in the chassis. Because of its weight, it is best to keep it in the lowest and center position. It will also be protected there in case of accidents.
The production Megacity Vehicle will have a Mini Clubman-style rear-hinged doors. It is highly possible that BMW will be using thin polished aluminum pressings bonded to the carbon fiber so it can be painted without an odd fabric pattern finish. The electric motor of the Megacity Vehicle will be inside an aluminum box. The electric motor and single speed transmission will be positioned at the rear and drive the back wheels.
The Megacity Vehicle that will be launched in 2013 will be fully electric driven, but there is also a big possibility that a another version with a 1.0 liter, two-cylinder engine will be made. This version will require a smaller battery pack, thus lessening the weight and cost of production.
Source: Autocar
