Steam Hybrid Car from BMW

RMX writes "BMW is unveiling its turbosteamer hybrid engine, which uses the excess heat in the exhaust system and reclaims 80% of it by powering a steam engine that assists the gas engine. Overall, this gives a 15% more efficient engine; and significant additional performance (power and torque) with practically no downside. "This project resolves the apparent contradiction between consumption and emission reductions on one hand, and performance and agility on the other," commented Professor Burkhard Göschel. Are steam engines the future of environmental-friendly hybrid vehicles?"

Re:Downsite?

[ivan256]

...the huge plume of steam coming out the 'smokestack' on the top of your BMW....

Just kidding, of course. It's probably a closed system, but the headline of this story certainly produces some amusing mental images.

turbosteamer eh?

[Intocabile]

Let's just hope this isn't comming from their Cleveland factory.

BMW Philosophy.

[Volanin]

Quote from the company's press release about BMW's philosophy towards efficiency:

"A reduction in consumption amounting to a few percentage points over the entire model range exerts higher overall effects on the general population than high percentage points for a niche model."

Now the company just has to make BMWs available to the "general population"!

Hey Stan...

[TapeCutter]

...I thought that idea ran out of steam decades ago...ba-da-boom!

Steam engine options

[thewiz]

I wonder if they will offer a steam whistle as an option to replace the car's horn.
It certainly would get the attention of the person in front of you preening themselves in their rearview mirror!

Re:Downsite?

[moro_666]

actually it would be funny on a rainy day to leave the cars behind you into a thick cloud of fog. you can use the steam whistle (they had these on steamtrains at least) to express your 'pity' for them having just normal gasoline cars ..

  but i'd rather have a steam engined harley davidson, imagine that woosh-woosh sound when you leave the central square of the city :)
  that 'woosh woosh' also makes you remember your deadlines at work which just wooshed by ...

I'm holding out...

[Ric0chet]

...for a Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor add-on for my Delor..er...Nissan.

Next Thing They'll Invent...

[FrankDrebin]

... a network of metal tracks to operate them on.

The obvious next step

[Chemisor]

Now all we need is to condense the output of the steam engine into water and give it to a horse who will help pull the car. That way you'll surely be 100% efficient!

Re:Repairs...

[bhima]

I'm sure that, in 2035, when you finally get one, the dwarf on the outside of town will know how ot fix it! :)

sorry couldn't resist.

Re:Downsite?

[LiquidCoooled]

They just need to worry about getting pressurised steam at 450degrees blown in their faces, but of course, nothing to worry about.

Mr. Burns at a BMW Dealership

[craXORjack]

Just look at this new-fangled horseless quadricycle, Smithers. Steam-powered! Oh, I've seen the seductress of steam come and go over the years, but no one yet has been able to tame her. When will they learn that these faddish larks are nothing to get their knickers in a bind over. Reminds me of that one young fool. What was his name again? Edison, I believe. Lazy good-for-nothing. Always contriving gadgets to avoid an honest day's labor. Now let's take this contraption for a test drive. Which lever do you suppose is the velocitator and which is the decceleratrix?

Why it's a ....... Beamer Steamer

[SloWave]

Beamer Steamer -- Copyrighted and Trademarked and for sale for $1,000,000 USD.

Re:Downsite?

[2b]

"but i'd rather have a steam engined harley davidson"

Unfortunately there's no way to make a steam engine loud enough to satisfy the average Harley owner. Too bad, since they're already accustomed to steam-engine performance.

Re:Article text in case of slashdotting

[heinousjay]

Wow, you have 'Troll' in your name, you copy/pasted a well known apple troll, barely making any changes, and you still got serious replies. Well done, sir, I applaud you. May trolling success follow you unto the ends of the earth.

BMW: Source

[Peteresch]

Does this mean a car that gets automatic repairs and upgrades all delivered through Steam?

Re:Downsite?

[SomeoneGotMyNick]

Perhaps there will be a steam-electric-fuel hybrid (tribrid?) at some point...

We'll go straight to Quadbrids. Steam/Electric/Fuel/Gravity (for when the other three, through a loose screw somewhere, interact themselves into a tangled mess). You can use the fourth drive method to coax it home. Wait, maybe it's a Pentabrid. Add the Biomechanical drive to push it home.

Re:Repairs...

[jred]

Who needs a Viper? I do that all the time in my '97 Mercury Grand Marquis (4.6L V8). AND I do it in a grampa car :P

Before electrical probs forced me to park it, I could spank nearly everyone in the land barge... er, '79 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. That big-ass car has a big-ass 7L V8 under the hood. You're forced to drive the damn thing like a grampa. Otherwise you just sit at the green light spinning the wheels. I ended up putting most of my tools in the trunk, just to add traction.

Seriously, it's not difficult to beat most of the "ricers" out there. There are a few "real" cars that aren't domestic, though. They use the camoflage of the ricers to fool you. You expect that Honda to be mostly bodywork & stickers, and that bastard actually spent mucho dineros under the hood. Fucker.

That said, if you really want some power, I've got my Caddy up for sale. Motor is strong, needs some body and electrical work. First $500 gets it...

BMW = "Boil More Water"

[rocket rancher]

Looks like we finally have a challenger for "break my windows" :)