I love show- and concept cars, mostly because they give us an opportunity to escape our own mundane existence to a world where we can actually afford any car we fancy, and get styling as out of this world as our own imaginations can sometimes be. So what if the production models – if it ever reaches production, I might add – is a totally watered-down shell of the glamourous show stopper?

Considering some of the clunkier models BMW has released in recent years (think X6 and, more recently, the Gran Turismo), it’s almost worth a public holiday when they create something low and fast. Say hi to the Vision EfficientDynamics concept, a low-slung racing-inspired beauty that promises the fuel efficiency of a small hybrid. Created as a signpost to BMW’s future sustainable mobility strategy, it’s – unfortunately – no production car prototype.

The groundbreaking VED uses an aluminium spaceframe chassis and variable-transparency ploycarbonate glass panels, elements rumoured to appear in BMW’s Z10 EfficientDynamics supercar scheduled for 2014. The car is principally powered by two electric motors drawing on a lithium-polymer battery pack comprising 98 cells – plug-in recharging is apparently now being favoured by more manufacturers.

The VED can also be charged by a common-rail direct-injection 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel ahead of the rear axle, an engine also rumoured to be near-ready for production and use in the next 1- and 3-series. BMW claims that it produces 120kW of power and 290Nm of torque, which is quite impressive for a three-cylinder motor.

A rear-mounted electric motor develops a constant 25kW and a maximum of 38kW to provide either assistance or full electric driving. A front synchronous motor puts out 60kW and peak torque of 22Nm, with an extra 84kW available for up to 30 seconds, and 104kW for up to 10 seconds.

Power is transmitted through a two-stage, single-speed reduced-ration gearbox that lets the car run on just electric power, just diesel, or an infinite combination of both. There’s also a thermo-electric generator able to develop up to 200W by converting thermal energy from exhaust emissions into electric power. With the help of regenerative braking and a stop-start system, the VED has an electric-only range of 50km and a total driving range of 700km.

The Vision EfficientDynamics is quoted to accelerate from 0-100km/h is 4.8 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h. CO2 emissions are a mere 99g/km (or 50g/km on the EU electricity mix cycle).