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Magna Mila Plus Concept Debuts at Geneva Motor Show 2015

Austrian-based automotive firm Magna has done many great things for the industry, yet never got the credit it deserves for its work. But while there isn't a Magna brand for production cars, there is one for concepts and it's called "Mila".
Magna Mila Plus Concept 8 photos
Photo: S. Baldauf / R. Kah
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Under Mila, Magna has built a number of design studies over the year and the latest is the Mila Plus, a yellow streak of lightning that made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

The concept plays a double role, also showing the fabrication potential their factories have. If Apple ever decides to make an electric coupe, the Mila Plus shows Magna can assemble it for them.

The technology underneath the yellow paint reminds us of the BMW i8. It combines a three-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor driving the rear wheels, and a second electric motor for the front wheels. Total horsepower is said to be 272 hp, with 570 Nm (420 lb-ft) of torque to play with too.

That's significantly less than the 362 hp of a the BMW, yet the performance is similar. The 1,540 kg (3,400 lb) car is said to propel itself from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. It also achieves an electric driving range of about 90 kilometers (43 miles).

The other main purpose for building the Mila Plus is to promote the company's proprietary bonding process called cold mechanical joining. How does it work? We honestly don't know, but that's probably because it's an industrial secret.

"A hybrid process in combination with bonding is used on the BIW. This reliable technology is more cost effective versus traditional welding solutions and is a joining process Magna has used on other vehicles including the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and Aston Martin Rapide," Magna says.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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