BMW Group will present its new concept car Vision EfficientDynamics at the Geneva Motor Show on March 4. It is the first time that a 4-cylinder diesel engine has been combined with BMW ActiveHybrid Technology in a large Sports Activity Vehicle. With an average fuel consumption of 6.5 litres per 100 kilometres in the EU test cycle and a CO2 emission level of 172 grams per kilometer, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is the most efficient vehicle of its size in the competitive environment of the BMW X models.

Environmentally-friendly sports and performance vehicles took center stage at this year’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. While some manufactures are focusing vehicles that can reach speeds of 200 miles-per-hour, others are researching ways to make high horsepower a little more responsible. Two examples include the Corvette ZR-1. Built entirely of lightweight material, aluminum, magnesium and carbon fiber, General Motors reports it has one of the best fuel economies in its class. Another fuel-efficient vehicle at the show included the Cadillac CTS V, a car with 550 horsepower and 550 feet of torque.

The ReCharge is a new hybrid gas-electric concept from Volvo. Aptly named for its ability to recharge itself while running. All the concepts seem sound in theory and Volvo hopes we will see these cars on the streets soon.

Here are three concept vehicles meant to be design studies from Mazda:

• Ryuga
• Taiki
• Hakaze

A quick run through of the concept vehicles at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, featuring the Hummer HX Concept. Enjoy!

The Rinspeed sQuba Concept

Thirty years after the movie thriller ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ hit the silver screen “sQuba” is the first car that can actually ‘fly’ under water.

Zumikon - “Dive it again, James!” If the situation gets too hot for the secret agent he’ll go underground - or under water. So demonstrated impressively by Roger Moore in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me” in 1977 when he dove below the waves in a sleek vehicle that moments before seemed to be an ordinary car. The only problem: The scene never really took place; it was an animation.

With the “sQuba,” the world’s first real submersible car, the movie fake now becomes reality for visitors of the Geneva Motor Show (March 6th - 16th, 2008). Rinspeed boss Frank M. Rinderknecht (52) is known for his extraordinary automotive creations. The acknowledged James Bond enthusiast and Swiss automobile visionary kept revisiting this scene in his mind over and over: “For three decades I have tried to imagine how it might be possible to build a car that can fly under water. Now we have made this dream come true.”

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