We can't say we were surprised to learn than BMW doesn't plan to build a diesel-electric hybrid like the Vision EfficientDynamics car shown in Frankfurt. It has nothing to do with the far-out styling and everything to do with cost.

"It would not be the most optimal use of finances to place a hybrid system with a highly efficient, three-cylinder diesel engine," said Tom Baloga, vice president of engineering for BMW of North America.

"The Vision EfficientDynamics was a combination of a lot of technologies that we expect to introduce — a three-cylinder engine, a full hybrid system, battery electric power. We're confident that all of this technology will make its way into our fleet, but more than likely not all in one vehicle."