BMW's Vision ED concept comes close to home

The future, according to BMW. The Vision ED concept will go on show at the Auckland Museum later this month. Photo / Supplied

You don't need to fly to Melbourne for this week's International Motor Show - you can see the headlining BMW Vision ED concept right here at home.

BMW's show star goes on display at Auckland Museum's rooftop event centre from July 15-17, with entry free.

BMW NZ managing director Mark Gilbert says the Vision ED represents "the future of BMW mobility", and says it will go into production in 2013 as the BMW i8.

It flies BMW's eco-friendly flag, pairing a three-cylinder turbo diesel engine driving the front axle with an electric motor powered by hybrid tech driving the rear, the combination producing 241kW for a zero to 100 time of 4.8s at a claimed 3.76l/100km thirst.

Mr Gilbert says: "The VisionED is proof that improving the efficiency and emissions of motor vehicles does not have to mean anything less than exhilaration and absolute driving pleasure."

Meantime, petrolheads who do make the transtasman trip will get a first look at Toyota's next rear-drive sports coupe. Likely to be called the 86 when it arrives next year, it is derived from the FT-86 concept developed alongside Subaru, and uses a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder Subaru engine with Toyota direct injection. Prices will start at about $40,000.

Then there's the world debut of Mazda's all-new BT-50 Freestyle cab, featuring RX-8-style suicide rear half-doors for the ute expected here this year.

Audi previewed its hot TT RS S-Tronic, Honda the Downunder arrival for the CR-Z hybrid coupe and Hyundai its sharp-looking Veloster hatch.
A new wave of electric cars will be led by the Mitsubishi
PX-MiEV, a compact SUV that signals next year's Outlander, which will launch with a plug-in hybrid.

Other brands opted for sale-ready cars with Ford focusing on the new liquid-injection Falcon LPi, the redesigned Focus launching here next month, and the new Ranger ute.

Kia has the Rio hatch ahead of its local launch, Mercedes its C-class coupe headlined by the C63 AMG variant, and Subaru the redesigned Impreza plus the all-new XV crossover concept.
More everyday fare includes Holden's five-door Cruze hatch and Toyota's updated Hilux.