BMW Motorrad give us a taste of an ELECTRIFIED FUTURE

THE BOXER ENGINE, WITH THOSE CYLINDER-HEADS PROTRUDING OUT INTO the airstream, has been a key element of the BMW Motorrad identity for over 90 years and the BMW Vision DC Roadster was conceived to give us a glimpse of what an electrically powered BMW motorcycle may look like. The result is a futuristic roadster with a low, minimalistic front end and a short, high tail section, but the most revolutionary element is a vertically fitted, longitudinally oriented battery pack that protrudes to the sides to mimic the legendary boxer. Both ends of the battery are fitted with ventilators and cooling ribs and, just like the boxer engines of old, these are placed in the airstream to keep the battery cool. The actual electric motor is much smaller and is positioned under the battery where it connects to the universal drive shaft that sends power to the rear wheel.

Edgar Heinrich, Head of Design, BMW Motorrad, had this to say at the unveiling of the BMW Vision DC Roadster: ‘The boxer engine is the heart of BMW Motorrad ― an absolute stalwart of its character. But BMW Motorrad stands for visionary zero-emission vehicle concepts, too. In view of this, one question