Electric sportscar concepts [2] abound, but it's always exciting when an automaker announces actual production plans.  Enter BMW, which announced this week that it will put its Vision EfficientDynamics plug-in hybrid concept into series production in 2013.

The vehicle, which was first unveiled at last year's Frankfurt International Motor Show, won't be the fastest BMW sportcar on the market--the 3,300 pound four-seater goes from 0 to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds, has a top speed of 155 mph (much like the M3), and can generate a total of 323 hp--but it's ultra-efficient, with a CO2 emissions rating of 159 grams per mile and a combined city/highway fuel economy of approximately 62 mpg.

BMW also claims that the diesel-electric powertrain-equipped car can be fully charged using a conventional power socket in only two and half hours.

 

No word from BMW on pricing, but efficiency doesn't come in such a sexy package for cheap. Regardless of pricing, the vehicle will have  stiff competition from Porsche's 918 RS Spyder [3] and Audi's E-tron [4].

 

Ariel Schwartz can be reached on Twitter [5] or by email [6].