Unveiled at EICMA last year, the BMW Concept C teased a new maxi scooter that’ll arrive in production form this fall. In February, BMW revealed it was planning two versions of the the scooter without detailing how’d they differ. Now, these pictures of a heavily disguised bike have been released, along with vague details of a pretty advanced sounding electric drivetrain. So BMW’s planning a highway capable electric commuter, but is this also what the gas-powered scooter will look like?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KfUmb6Gm4Q

Of the electric, BMW teases, “...acceleration figures within the important 0 - 60 km/h range, which are at the level of current maxi scooters powered by a 600 cc combustion engine.”

“...a daily driving range of over 100 kilometres.”

“...When the battery is completely flat, the charging period is less than three hours.”

“...has no hub motor with direct drive or planetary gearbox. Instead, the high-performance electric machine is mounted behind the battery casing. The secondary drive consists of a toothed belt from the electric machine to the belt pulley mounted coaxially on the swinging fork pivot with drive pinion. From here, power transmission occurs via roller chain to the rear wheel. When the E-Scooter is decelerated in trailing throttle or when braking, the energy released is recuperated, thereby increasing the vehicle's range by between 10 and 20 per cent depending on driving profile.”

“...the electric machine and power electronics are liquid-cooled, as is the charging device during charging. An electric coolant pump ensures coolant circulation through the radiator.”

“...does not have a main frame. Instead, the aluminium battery casing — which also contains the electronic system required for battery cell monitoring —takes over the function of the frame. The steering head support is connected to it, as is the rear frame and the left-hand mounted single swing arm with directly hinged, horizontally installed shock absorber.”

Last year's Concept C.

The design is distinctly Concept C influenced. Side panels at the front protrude past the headlight; the side-mount shock is horizontal; the floor boards are quasi-step through, with a tall protrusion in the middle bordered by large, inboard footrests. All this is obviously toned-down from the concept. The brakes are more traditional, non-6 piston radial scooter faire; the windshield will actually deflect air; shapes and forms are less severely angular.

But, that last quote is perhaps indicative that this is not the final look of the ICE scooter, which would presumably require some sort of frame and separate development process. Regardless, BMW is getting back into the scooter game and this is a first look at what at least one of those scoots will look like.

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