BMW: 32 Years Before the XL1 – AVT.

BMW’s 1981 AVT Concept: Retro VW XL1 in a Wind Tunnel.

For close to four a long time, motor organizations have been striving to make autos with lowered drag coefficients. As the marketplace has shifted and electric vehicles are now an increasingly significant presence amongst the list of fresh cars offered, producers have devoted extra effort into honing their aerodynamics for greater range. As a seminal illustration from extremely early on, BMW introduced the AVT concept in 1981 as a sample of influential streamlined contours. It stands that aerodynamics is just as important today as it was then.

Domagoj Dukec, BMW’s Head of Design, recently explored the brand’s archives and unearthed some rarely seen images of the AVT concept car. He referred to it as “one of the most mysterious concept cars in the history of BMW” in an Instagram post. According to Dukec, the company created the vehicle to have something exciting to showcase at the time of the opening of their new wind tunnel.

AVT stands for Aerodynamischer Versuchsträger, a term which can roughly be translated from German as ‘aerodynamic test carrier’. In regard to its design, the vehicle had no drivetrain or interior components; it functioned solely as a body to be used for wind tunnel testing.

The styling showcases a low-profile nose that arcs seamlessly into the windscreen. The tip of the hood hosts a diminutive token of BMW’s iconic kidney grilles. To maintain an uncluttered aesthetic, pop-up headlights have been deployed.

Concealment of the front wheels guarantees an aerodynamic shape for the sides; flowing flanks lead up to the broad rear fenders, complete with covering fairings. With no interior, it is difficult to determine how the doors will be structured, yet gullwing hinges seem to be the most reasonable option.

The aft portion features a Kammback tail where the end gradually declines before being precipitously truncated. This type of aerodynamic styling minimizes drag, which is the fundamental premise of the AVT principle.

The post by Dukec has generated a lot of interest due its combination of sketches and photos of the AVT. Not much altered in the progression from the drawings towards the three dimensional version. Nonetheless, some features such as the ventilations in the lower front element and the NACA air inlets placed in front of the rear wheel-arches weren’t integrated into the concrete model.

The BMW’s form possesses certain resemblances to the Volkswagen XL1. Its sleek styling and coverings on the posterior wheels are traits they both share. If you wish to create a car which will have maximized aerodynamics, then this style is perfect for that purpose. However, unlike the AVT, production of the XL1 was limited, beginning as far back as 2014.

We contacted BMW to discover the destiny of the AVT. A representative told Motor1 that “usually, once non-running concepts like this have made the auto show circuit, they are either put into long-term storage or destroyed.” We anticipate learning the fate of the AVT. We’ll make sure to update this article if we uncover any more information.

Source: domagoj.dukec via Instagram, via BMW Blog