It's not the most fashionable or most powerful concept vehicle BMW->ke178 has been involved with, but as far as significance is concerned, it just might be one of the most meaningful car projects that they've been a part of.

The concept vehicle is called the Visio.M MUTE, a prototype vehicle developed by Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) that now has the involvement of partners from the German auto industry, spearheaded by BMW. The concept is being pegged as a vehicle for the future, one that is being developed to determine the feasibility of developing an efficient, mass-market electric vehicle that ensures the same level of safety and affordability as the combustion vehicles of today.

The project recently received €10.8 million ($14.1 million at the current rates) in funding from the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF). The Visio.M MUTE is the prototype model that will play a critical role in determining how it can handle new technologies in logistics, crash safety, propulsion, and energy storage for a future, mass-produced vehicle.

As it currently stands, the car only carries and output of 20 horsepower and weighs only 400 kg without batteries. It certainly won't break any speed records anytime soon, but in terms of significance, the Visio.M MUTE could be one of the most important concept vehicles to come out in recent years.

2012 Project Visio.M MUTE Concept

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2012 Project Visio.M MUTE Concept
  • Horsepower: 20
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

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