Crazy BMW Electric Vehicle Designs Are Coming To An End

Future EVs will look just like the rest of its range.

BMW was one of the first premium auto manufacturers to offer both hybrid and electric vehicles as part of its model range, and while mild hybrid offerings based on the 3 and 5 Series sedans were almost identical to the gas-powered models, the i3 and i8 were all-new designs intended to draw attention to its innovative powertrains.

According to Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW’s design director, the need to showcase EVs in this manner is coming to an end. Electric vehicles in the future will look identical to their conventionally powered stablemates. “Electric mobility will spread through our entire vehicle range in quite a short space of time - to the point that electric or plug-in hybrid is just another option box you tick as you order the car,” said van Hooydonk.

He did go on to say that innovative design was still a core component of the BMW brand and that the i cars especially, will showcase forward-thinking styling. One-off designs like the i3 and i8 are very expensive to develop and while early adopters are the ideal target market for these types of vehicles, the next stage in EV evolution will need to appeal to a broader cross-section of customers.

Upcoming EVs such as the iX3 SUV and i4 sedan definitely seem to follow the accepted SUV/sedan design mold but they still manage to look fresh and futuristic thanks to subtle yet effective design cues.

Truly unique designs may still be on the cards though, the range-topping Vision iNext SUV is a case in point. It promises to push the boundaries of what customers are familiar with and lay the foundations for the next generation of electric vehicles from BMW.

Crazy, High-Performance SUV Concepts That Never Made It

These awesome SUVs remained concepts forever. But we will never forget them.

Stuffing powerful engines under the hood of a vehicle designed specifically for off-roading isn’t a new phenomenon. Automakers have been doing this for years for one reason, and one reason only: it’s awesome. SUVs, specifically those with a body-on-frame chassis, are the go-anywhere, up-for-anything vehicle people want in their lives, but having more power is never a bad thing.

High-performance SUVs are typically special editions, providing carmakers with some always needed street cred and a relatively easy way to make a few extra bucks. A regular SUV with an upgraded engine is a win-win for everybody – automakers, customers, and gas station owners. Sadly, some of the craziest, most powerful SUVs never made it to production, forever remaining concepts.

Volvo XC90 Supercharged

Today, it’s not uncommon to see a performance vehicle from Volvo, including SUV crossovers. But back in 2005 it was almost unheard of. Meet the Volvo XC90 Supercharged. It’s yellow. Very yellow. It also has a Yamaha-developed V8 that, under normal circumstances, makes 311 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. Volvo wanted more than normal, so added a massive supercharger that dialed up the output to an estimated 600 hp. Power was sent to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox. That system was also “pre-charged,” meaning power could be instantly routed to the wheel with the most traction.

Compared to the production XC90 at the time, its Supercharged evil twin rode two inches lower to the ground and wore nine-inch wide ultra-high-performance alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero rubber. Volvo also made changes to the front fascia and added custom fabricated wheel arches. Quad exhaust pipes can be found at the rear. Although production never happened, the XC90 Supercharged was a demonstration of what Volvo could do and what it wanted to become.

Chevrolet Tahoe SS

Back when gasoline was stupid cheap Chevrolet figured ‘Hey, why the hell not… let’s build a Tahoe SS for fun.’ And so it was. The ‘SS’ moniker, famous for its muscle car heydays of the 1960s and early 70s, was called upon once again. The Tahoe SUV, at the time in its second generation (at least with that nameplate), was given a few cosmetic changes from the standard version, such as a clean front grille and wide-mouth air intakes under each headlight. Its stance was also lowered by two inches up front and four at the rear. Under the hood was a 6.0-liter Vortec V8 with 345 hp. That power was directed to the rear wheels only.

Chevrolet wanted to go with a stealthy look similar to the Tahoe cop SUV, and it managed to pull this off nicely. Unfortunately, despite being production ready, or close to it, Chevy opted not to build it in the end. Instead, it was merely a display of the brand’s performance capabilities. Bummer, because this could have been an instant classic.

Cadillac Escalade Twin Turbo

The Cadillac Escalade was always a bit nuts. Big, bold and bling tastic, this luxury SUV never has and never will apologize for being what it is. During the same time Chevrolet was toying with the idea of a Tahoe SS, Cadillac had a lunatic idea of its own: a twin-turbo Escalade.

Under its hood is a 6.0-liter V8 that borrowed the cam from the C6 Corvette LS6 engine and ported aluminum Vortec heads. Cadillac even added a custom carbon fiber intake. A pair of Aerodyne turbochargers were then added. Combined output: 580 hp and 580 lb-ft of torque. Total weight came to around 5,700 pounds. Engineers also lowered the SUV’s ground clearance at the front and rear axles by 25 and 35 millimeters, respectively. The interior received an entertainment system consisting of a DVD player and voice control. The exterior featured silver metallic paint and chrome-plated 20-inch wheels. Production? You wish.

Ford SVT Tremor

The world was a different place in 1998 and so was Ford Motor Company. Remember, this was before the era of the crossover, a vehicle body style Ford has committed itself to for the foreseeable future. But it was during the 1990s when Ford also cherished the SUV, specifically the Explorer (before its crossover days). Anyone remember the SVT Tremor Concept? It’s okay if you don’t. Maybe you weren’t even born yet. “The Tremor is a further evolution of America’s best-selling sport utility vehicle, the Ford Explorer,” said Tom Scott, director of the Advanced Design Studio at the time. “While it maintains the Explorer’s well-known attributes of performance, ruggedness and a well-packaged interior, this concept vehicle creates a new niche of fun-to-drive vehicle.”

So, why was the SVT Tremor particularly cool? Built together with Yamaha, under the hood was an all-aluminum 4.6-liter V8 with an estimated 380 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque. To compare, the 1998 Mustang Cobra had 305 hp. Top speed was said to be about 140 mph and a less than 7-second 0-60 mph was predicted. But once again, we never got the chance to see everything this performance SUV was capable of.

Jeep Trailcat

When you have an engine as incredible as the supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8, you might as well use it. Not only is the Hellcat found in the Dodge Challenger, Charger, and Jeep Grand Cherokee, but also in a Wrangler. Yes, really. The Jeep Trailcat was a concept first shown in 2016. With a total of 707 hp, you’d think the engine could somehow rip the Wrangler in half but Jeep engineers made sure this wouldn’t happen.

And yes, this concept was really put to the test when it made its debut appearance at Jeep’s 50th annual Easter Safari gathering in Moab, Utah. Along with a six-speed manual, the Trailcat received a set of massive tires, a big roll cage, and – this is where engineering is really needed – a 12-inch wheelbase extension in order for the engine to fit. Although the Trailcat never reached production, you could argue that it paved the way for the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.

BMW X5 Le Mans

This isn’t the first time we’ve come across the BMW X5 Le Mans and no doubt it won't be the last. Why? Because back in 2000, BMW had the wonderfully nuts idea to stuff a V12 engine under the hood of a first-generation X5. Production was never intended, but a trip to the Nurburgring was. BMW managed to get this one-off X5 up to 192 mph at the Green Hell. Oh, and that 6.0-liter V12 came directly from the BMW V12 LMR Le Mans endurance racer. Total output: 700 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque. The race car had about 100 hp less.

And just when you thought this couldn’t get any crazier, engineers opted for an M-division six-speed manual transmission. As for its Nurburgring aspirations? The X5 Le Mans managed a lap time of 7:50. To compare, the 2018 Honda Civic Type R set its own ‘Ring lap time of 7:43.8.

Crazy SUVs More Powerful Than Lamborghini Urus

Some modified, others not. All ludicrous.

Today’s gold standard for SUVs is the Lamborghini Urus. Sure, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk has 707 hp whereas the Urus delivers 650 ponies, but the Lambo is superior in all other categories, like luxury, technology, and refinement. However, there are other SUVs that are not only more powerful, but are as luxurious and focused on the finest of details as the Urus. While some are the products of aftermarket tuning firms, like the Urus, these ten SUVs pride themselves on being outlandish, some more so than others.

Bentley Bentayga by Mansory (700 HP)

The Bentley Bentayga may be built in the UK, but Swiss aftermarket tuner Mansory will be more than happy to inject the SUV with additional testosterone, for a price of course. There are several possible enhancement modifications, such as a wide body kit, 22-inch wheels and a sport exhaust system. But why settle for the Bentayga’s stock twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 with 600 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque when Mansory will work its magic to create a new output of 700 hp and 774 lb-ft? Bentayga’s aren’t exactly cheap, but if you’re willing to spend at least $195,000 then what’s a few bucks more?

Hennessey Escalade HPE800 (805 HP)

Welcome back to America. Time for some Texas lunacy with the one and only Hennessey Escalade HPE800. Starting with the always bling-tastic Cadillac Escalade, Hennessey Performance sticks with its familiar formula of leaving the exterior and interior stock (save for some Hennessey badges), and making all modifications under the hood. The result is a large and luxurious SUV with 805 hp and 812 lb-ft of torque. This was accomplished by, among other things, adding a 2.9-liter supercharger to the 6.2-liter V8, a new high-flow air to water intercooler system, high-flow intake manifold, and a stainless steel exhaust upgrade. The performance result is a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds and a quarter-mile sprint of 11.7 seconds at 116 mph.

Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe by Brabus (850 HP)

…and back to Germany. Meet the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe by Brabus. Why accept the slick GLE 63 S Coupe with its stock 576 hp when you can add up to 274 hp more? That’s right, you’re looking at an output of 850 hp and a beyond nuts 1,069 lb-ft of torque. Performance is equally impressive. Zero to 62 mph takes no more than 3.8 seconds and top speed, according to Brabus, is electronically limited to 200 mph. Could it go even faster? Probably. Along with engine modifications, Brabus has attached a front lip spoiler to the AMG’s lower front bumper for a visual upgrade as well as further optimizing handling speeds and handling ability. Out back there’s a new diffuser, upgraded exhaust, and roof spoiler.

Tesla Model X P100D (762 HP)

Let’s switch gears here slightly with something similar but different: the 762-hp Tesla Model X P100D. With its 0-60 mph time of just 2.9 seconds, the top of the line Model X is an all-electric SUV that can haul up to seven passengers. It also has plenty of advanced safety features and a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. The interior is not only luxurious, but also high-tech, thanks to the 17-inch touchscreen display that receives regular over the air updates. For an extra few thousand bucks, one can add Autopilot, Tesla’s somewhat controversial self-driving aide. The P100 D (‘P’ stands for ‘Performance’) begins at around $150,000, some $50k less than the less powerful Urus.

Jon Olsson's Mercedes-Benz G500 4x4 Squared (800 HP)

Professional Swedish skier Jon Olsson has long been known as an all-wheel drive supercar enthusiast. Turns out he’s a fan of off-road SUVs too. A couple of years ago he purchased a Mercedes-Benz G500 4x4 Squared. He didn’t waste any time before beginning modifications. The result is the 800-hp Lord Hans SUV, named for his brother “who loves exploring the wilderness.” The G500 4x4 Squared already comes with 400 hp, but hey, technology enables that figure to be doubled, so why not just go for it? Dutch aftermarket tuner Absolute Motors was tasked with reworking the engine and modifying the suspension. Oh, and did we also mention Olsson sliced off the SUV’s roof after discovering it was too tall to fit in parking garages?

TechArt Porsche Cayenne Magnum Sport (720 HP)

Meet the 720-hp TechArt Porsche Cayenne Magnum Sport, built to celebrate the tuning firm’s 30th anniversary. This modified Porsche Cayenne has a twin-turbo 4.8-liter V8 which produces an impressive 570 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. But TechArt has managed to squeeze an extra 150 hp and 88 lb-ft for a grand total of 720 hp and 678 lb-ft. This was accomplished by improving the turbochargers, altering the engine control software, and a new exhaust system. Based on the previous generation Cayenne Turbo S, TechArt’s creation has the same 0-62 mph time as the stock version but top speed is another matter. The TechArt Cayenne Turbo S can hit 193 mph, whereas the stock version goes no faster than 176 mph.

BMW X6 M Typhoon RS Ultimate V10 by G-Power (888 HP)

And how could we not include a BMW X6. Fortunately, we found one with 888 hp: the X6 M Typhoon RS Ultimate V10 by G-Power. It’s not exactly new, dating back to 2010, but its output remains formidable. G-Power wanted to pay tribute to the then outgoing BMW M V10 engine, so it swapped out the first generation X6 M’s twin-turbo V8 with a 5.0-liter V10. And then it modified it. Displacement was increased to 5.5-liters, a pair of superchargers were added, the ECU revised, among many other upgrades. The result? 888 hp and 642 lb-ft of torque. Heck, there’s even a six-speed manual sending power to the rear wheels. Does the Urus offer a manual? Nope. G-Power claims a 0-62 mph time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed in excess of 205 mph.

Hennessey VelociRaptor SUV (650 HP)

Okay, so you perhaps you want another U.S.-built option. No problem, because Hennessey Performance is here once again to offer something wonderfully bonkers. It’s the special order only VelociRaptor SUV, based on the Ford F-250 Lariat pickup truck. Essentially it’s a truck to SUV conversion project that requires 6 months to build. The most powerful engine option available s a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 650 hp – exactly the same output as the Lamborghini Urus, but the VelociRaptor SUV offers a third row bench seat for a total of up to seven or eight passengers. With exterior styling directly from the ferocious F-150 Raptor, it’s hard to see how one could go wrong here. Hopefully you have at least $159,000 to spend.

Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Sahara Edition by Mansory (828 HP)

First and foremost, Mansory focused on the love it or hate it styling with its Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Sahara Edition. With its camouflage paint scheme, and unique grille, headlights, hood scoop, rear spoiler, and roof-mounted lights, it’s obvious this won’t appeal to everyone. Riding on a set of 22-inch alloys, the Sahara Edition also features a modified interior with a similar camouflage theme. But at its heart, the SUV is a horsepower beast. Mansory increased output of the twin-turbocharged V8 to 828 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque. That’s actually a 292 hp and 177 lb-ft improvement over the stock version. The Swiss tuner didn’t provide performance figures, but that increased output will surely make things quite a bit quicker.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk (707 HP)

And last, but not least, is the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. It comes straight from the factory with 707 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 engine. With its 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is actually faster off the line than the Dodge Challenger Hellcat. Top speed is a claimed 180 mph, only 10 mph less than the Lamborghini Urus. It also costs a lot less. While the Lambo begins at $200k, you can buy a Trackhawk for just under $90k. That’s more than half the cost, but at the sacrifice of luxury, refinement and the prestige of owning a Lamborghini. But hey, fast is fast.

Crazy BMW Electric Vehicle Designs Are Coming To An End

Future EVs will look just like the rest of its range.

BMW was one of the first premium auto manufacturers to offer both hybrid and electric vehicles as part of its model range, and while mild hybrid offerings based on the 3 and 5 Series sedans were almost identical to the gas-powered models, the i3 and i8 were all-new designs intended to draw attention to its innovative powertrains.

According to Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW’s design director, the need to showcase EVs in this manner is coming to an end. Electric vehicles in the future will look identical to their conventionally powered stablemates. “Electric mobility will spread through our entire vehicle range in quite a short space of time - to the point that electric or plug-in hybrid is just another option box you tick as you order the car,” said van Hooydonk.

He did go on to say that innovative design was still a core component of the BMW brand and that the i cars especially, will showcase forward-thinking styling. One-off designs like the i3 and i8 are very expensive to develop and while early adopters are the ideal target market for these types of vehicles, the next stage in EV evolution will need to appeal to a broader cross-section of customers.

Upcoming EVs such as the iX3 SUV and i4 sedan definitely seem to follow the accepted SUV/sedan design mold but they still manage to look fresh and futuristic thanks to subtle yet effective design cues.

Truly unique designs may still be on the cards though, the range-topping Vision iNext SUV is a case in point. It promises to push the boundaries of what customers are familiar with and lay the foundations for the next generation of electric vehicles from BMW.

View the original article here

Crazy SUVs More Powerful Than Lamborghini Urus

Some modified, others not. All ludicrous.

Today’s gold standard for SUVs is the Lamborghini Urus. Sure, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk has 707 hp whereas the Urus delivers 650 ponies, but the Lambo is superior in all other categories, like luxury, technology, and refinement. However, there are other SUVs that are not only more powerful, but are as luxurious and focused on the finest of details as the Urus. While some are the products of aftermarket tuning firms, like the Urus, these ten SUVs pride themselves on being outlandish, some more so than others.

Bentley Bentayga by Mansory (700 HP)

The Bentley Bentayga may be built in the UK, but Swiss aftermarket tuner Mansory will be more than happy to inject the SUV with additional testosterone, for a price of course. There are several possible enhancement modifications, such as a wide body kit, 22-inch wheels and a sport exhaust system. But why settle for the Bentayga’s stock twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 with 600 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque when Mansory will work its magic to create a new output of 700 hp and 774 lb-ft? Bentayga’s aren’t exactly cheap, but if you’re willing to spend at least $195,000 then what’s a few bucks more?

Hennessey Escalade HPE800 (805 HP)

Welcome back to America. Time for some Texas lunacy with the one and only Hennessey Escalade HPE800. Starting with the always bling-tastic Cadillac Escalade, Hennessey Performance sticks with its familiar formula of leaving the exterior and interior stock (save for some Hennessey badges), and making all modifications under the hood. The result is a large and luxurious SUV with 805 hp and 812 lb-ft of torque. This was accomplished by, among other things, adding a 2.9-liter supercharger to the 6.2-liter V8, a new high-flow air to water intercooler system, high-flow intake manifold, and a stainless steel exhaust upgrade. The performance result is a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds and a quarter-mile sprint of 11.7 seconds at 116 mph.

Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe by Brabus (850 HP)

…and back to Germany. Meet the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe by Brabus. Why accept the slick GLE 63 S Coupe with its stock 576 hp when you can add up to 274 hp more? That’s right, you’re looking at an output of 850 hp and a beyond nuts 1,069 lb-ft of torque. Performance is equally impressive. Zero to 62 mph takes no more than 3.8 seconds and top speed, according to Brabus, is electronically limited to 200 mph. Could it go even faster? Probably. Along with engine modifications, Brabus has attached a front lip spoiler to the AMG’s lower front bumper for a visual upgrade as well as further optimizing handling speeds and handling ability. Out back there’s a new diffuser, upgraded exhaust, and roof spoiler.

Tesla Model X P100D (762 HP)

Let’s switch gears here slightly with something similar but different: the 762-hp Tesla Model X P100D. With its 0-60 mph time of just 2.9 seconds, the top of the line Model X is an all-electric SUV that can haul up to seven passengers. It also has plenty of advanced safety features and a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. The interior is not only luxurious, but also high-tech, thanks to the 17-inch touchscreen display that receives regular over the air updates. For an extra few thousand bucks, one can add Autopilot, Tesla’s somewhat controversial self-driving aide. The P100 D (‘P’ stands for ‘Performance’) begins at around $150,000, some $50k less than the less powerful Urus.

Jon Olsson's Mercedes-Benz G500 4x4 Squared (800 HP)

Professional Swedish skier Jon Olsson has long been known as an all-wheel drive supercar enthusiast. Turns out he’s a fan of off-road SUVs too. A couple of years ago he purchased a Mercedes-Benz G500 4x4 Squared. He didn’t waste any time before beginning modifications. The result is the 800-hp Lord Hans SUV, named for his brother “who loves exploring the wilderness.” The G500 4x4 Squared already comes with 400 hp, but hey, technology enables that figure to be doubled, so why not just go for it? Dutch aftermarket tuner Absolute Motors was tasked with reworking the engine and modifying the suspension. Oh, and did we also mention Olsson sliced off the SUV’s roof after discovering it was too tall to fit in parking garages?

TechArt Porsche Cayenne Magnum Sport (720 HP)

Meet the 720-hp TechArt Porsche Cayenne Magnum Sport, built to celebrate the tuning firm’s 30th anniversary. This modified Porsche Cayenne has a twin-turbo 4.8-liter V8 which produces an impressive 570 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. But TechArt has managed to squeeze an extra 150 hp and 88 lb-ft for a grand total of 720 hp and 678 lb-ft. This was accomplished by improving the turbochargers, altering the engine control software, and a new exhaust system. Based on the previous generation Cayenne Turbo S, TechArt’s creation has the same 0-62 mph time as the stock version but top speed is another matter. The TechArt Cayenne Turbo S can hit 193 mph, whereas the stock version goes no faster than 176 mph.

BMW X6 M Typhoon RS Ultimate V10 by G-Power (888 HP)

And how could we not include a BMW X6. Fortunately, we found one with 888 hp: the X6 M Typhoon RS Ultimate V10 by G-Power. It’s not exactly new, dating back to 2010, but its output remains formidable. G-Power wanted to pay tribute to the then outgoing BMW M V10 engine, so it swapped out the first generation X6 M’s twin-turbo V8 with a 5.0-liter V10. And then it modified it. Displacement was increased to 5.5-liters, a pair of superchargers were added, the ECU revised, among many other upgrades. The result? 888 hp and 642 lb-ft of torque. Heck, there’s even a six-speed manual sending power to the rear wheels. Does the Urus offer a manual? Nope. G-Power claims a 0-62 mph time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed in excess of 205 mph.

Hennessey VelociRaptor SUV (650 HP)

Okay, so you perhaps you want another U.S.-built option. No problem, because Hennessey Performance is here once again to offer something wonderfully bonkers. It’s the special order only VelociRaptor SUV, based on the Ford F-250 Lariat pickup truck. Essentially it’s a truck to SUV conversion project that requires 6 months to build. The most powerful engine option available s a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 650 hp – exactly the same output as the Lamborghini Urus, but the VelociRaptor SUV offers a third row bench seat for a total of up to seven or eight passengers. With exterior styling directly from the ferocious F-150 Raptor, it’s hard to see how one could go wrong here. Hopefully you have at least $159,000 to spend.

Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Sahara Edition by Mansory (828 HP)

First and foremost, Mansory focused on the love it or hate it styling with its Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Sahara Edition. With its camouflage paint scheme, and unique grille, headlights, hood scoop, rear spoiler, and roof-mounted lights, it’s obvious this won’t appeal to everyone. Riding on a set of 22-inch alloys, the Sahara Edition also features a modified interior with a similar camouflage theme. But at its heart, the SUV is a horsepower beast. Mansory increased output of the twin-turbocharged V8 to 828 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque. That’s actually a 292 hp and 177 lb-ft improvement over the stock version. The Swiss tuner didn’t provide performance figures, but that increased output will surely make things quite a bit quicker.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk (707 HP)

And last, but not least, is the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. It comes straight from the factory with 707 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 engine. With its 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is actually faster off the line than the Dodge Challenger Hellcat. Top speed is a claimed 180 mph, only 10 mph less than the Lamborghini Urus. It also costs a lot less. While the Lambo begins at $200k, you can buy a Trackhawk for just under $90k. That’s more than half the cost, but at the sacrifice of luxury, refinement and the prestige of owning a Lamborghini. But hey, fast is fast.