Magna Steyr Mila EV Concept Details and Photos Released

Magna Steyr MILA EV concept

Out-of-the-Box Electric Vehicle Platform

By Sam Stockley
March 2, 2009 5:30 pm
Filed Under: Concept Car, Electric Vehicle, European, Geneva Motor Show, Green, Production

Magna Steyr, Austrian-based contracted vehicle manufacturer, present the Mila EV at Geneva this week, a car touted as the infinitely applicable to the everyday. And that starts in all its relevance with the drivetrain but equally importantly with its role as a template. That template makes the Mila EV a fully integrated electric vehicle platform suitable for adaptation by manufacturers in pursuit of their own product, drive and design strategies.

Home to the expertise in system integration built up over many years, complete-systems provider Magna Steyr of Magna International, Canada, offer the industry a platform requiring no further development and a concept optimised for alternative drive technology, be it electric power or natural gas, fuel cells or hybrid drive. Its immediate availability shortens lead production times and with Magna Steyr at the helm as manufacturing partner, all versions can be made on Magna's well-proven Flex Plant concept single production line.

The Mila EV study show car has been imagined as a B-segment vehicle of around 4m in length with a 2.5m wheelbase. Its design aims for graceful futurism, the line connecting front headlamps with the side windows providing a slick design element while reverse-view cameras that account for the lack of bulky, conventional side mirrors streamline aerodynamics.

The running sensor strip traversing the side simultaneously serves as design feature, door opener and "fuel gauge" - visibly announcing current battery levels. Roof-mounted solar cell panels generate additional energy, providing power to a 67 hp lithium-ion powered electric motor - designed in-house by Magna Steyr - that returns a range of up to 150 km on a 2.5 hour charge.

The Mila EV debut follows news out of Detroit in January that Ford have signed contracts with Magna on the co-operation on a new electric vehicle - the first to be developed with a manufacturer partner in-house by Magna Steyr. Ford's new electric vehicle is however said to be based on the Focus platform and not on the Mila EV, seeing light in 2011.

Source: Magna Steyr

Press Release (Click to expand)

MIla EV: Uncompromising, forward-looking, universal, suited to daily use

Magna is presenting the latest member of the MILA innovation family at the Geneva Motor Show 2009: mila ev - a forward-looking automotive concept, uncompromising, universally applicable and suited to daily use in every way. The outstanding element and centerpiece of the mila ev is its fully integrated electric vehicle platform which can be used by every OEM to realize their own product, drive and design strategies in the shortest of time.

A new vehicle concept

A new vehicle concept has been developed in the shape of the mila ev in which the electric drive represents both the starting point and end point of development. In other words, a vehicle concept optimized for an alternative, forward-looking drive technology in all the developmental steps and thus representing no subsequent modification, retrofitting or conversion of an already existing concept. Without compromise, as only can be expected from a complete-systems provider proficient in understanding complete vehicle systems and outstanding expertise in system integration built up over many years.

Direct from concept to series production

The novel platform on which the mila ev is based is a completely developed concept which can be used for production-vehicle development immediately and thus for series production in the shortest of time - as a genuine electric vehicle or, thanks to the intelligent design, with natural gas, fuel cells or hybrid drive.

Advantages

1. No modification of classical vehicle concepts, but rather a functionally optimized platform for all vehicle features (weight, strength, NVH, crash, etc.)

2. Full flexibility and adaptability to the strategies, needs and designs of all OEMs.

3. The expertise advantage from Magna: one-stop provision from components to the complete vehicle, including a business model for production.

4. Cost advantage: common utilization by a variety of OEMs and/or for different drive versions means higher production runs and thus lower costs.

5. Magna Steyr as ideal manufacturing partner: with the well-proven Flex Plant concept, all versions can be made on one single production line.

Design and Engineering

The concept study of the mila ev, which will be presented in Geneva as show car, is a five-door version with a length of about 4 m and a wheelbase of 2.5 m. The rolling lines of the body provide for graceful esthetics. At the same time, the connecting line between headlights and side windows lends the vehicle a futuristic and elegant look. The lateral running sensor strip is at one and the same time design element, door opener and "fuel gauge" which shows, clearly visibly, the current battery charge. Additionally, the integrated door opener is activated by an electronic key. The solar cells integrated in the glass roof serve as additional energy generation; the usually large wing mirrors of conventional vehicles have been replaced in mila ev by aerodynamic reverse-view cameras.

The mila ev is driven by a 67 hp electric motor supplied by one of the lithium-ion batteries developed by Magna Steyr. At an average charging time of 2.5 hours, ranges of up to 150 km can be achieved.