diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 3a4edf69..65b3b7ce 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 .project
+CMakeLists.txt.user
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index b8eb0f39..08e6fb63 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -88,6 +88,12 @@ add_subdirectory (src/OpenMesh/Core)
 add_subdirectory (src/OpenMesh/Tools)
 add_subdirectory (src/OpenMesh/Apps)
 
+set(OPENMESH_BENCHMARK_DIR CACHE PATH "Source path of benchmark (https://github.com/google/benchmark).")
+if (OPENMESH_BENCHMARK_DIR)
+	add_subdirectory(${OPENMESH_BENCHMARK_DIR} benchmark)
+	add_subdirectory(src/Benchmark)
+endif()
+
 # Do not build unit tests when build as external library
 if(${PROJECT_NAME} MATCHES "OpenMesh")
     add_subdirectory (src/Unittests)
diff --git a/src/Benchmark/CMakeLists.txt b/src/Benchmark/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..59ae3c00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Benchmark/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+set (SOURCES "")
+list (APPEND SOURCES
+	main.cpp
+	VectorT_new.cpp
+	VectorT_legacy.cpp
+        VectorT_dummy_data.cpp
+)
+
+add_executable(OMBenchmark ${SOURCES})
+set_target_properties(OMBenchmark PROPERTIES
+	INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/..")
+target_link_libraries(OMBenchmark benchmark OpenMeshCore)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Benchmark/VectorT.cpp b/src/Benchmark/VectorT.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..54989d54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Benchmark/VectorT.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+/*
+ * VectorT.cpp
+ *
+ *  Created on: Nov 19, 2015
+ *      Author: ebke
+ */
+
+#ifndef BMPOSTFIX
+#error "Do not compile directly."
+#endif
+
+#include <type_traits>
+
+#define ASSEMBLE_(POSTFIX, PREFIX) PREFIX ## POSTFIX
+#define ASSEMBLE(POSTFIX, PREFIX) ASSEMBLE_(POSTFIX, PREFIX)
+#define MYBENCHMARK(NAME) BENCHMARK(NAME)
+#define MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE(NAME, TYPE) BENCHMARK_TEMPLATE(NAME, TYPE)
+
+template<class Vec>
+static inline
+typename std::enable_if<Vec::size_ == 3, Vec>::type
+testVec() {
+    return Vec(1.1, 1.2, 1.3);
+}
+
+template<class Vec>
+static inline
+typename std::enable_if<Vec::size_ == 4, Vec>::type
+testVec() {
+    return Vec(1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4);
+}
+
+template<class Vec>
+static void ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_add_compare)(benchmark::State& state) {
+    Vec v1(0.0);
+    Vec v2(1000.0);
+    while (state.KeepRunning()) {
+        v1 += testVec<Vec>();
+        v2 -= testVec<Vec>();
+        if (v1 == v2) {
+            v1 -= v2;
+            v2 += v1;
+        }
+    }
+    // Just so nothing gets optimized away.
+    static double dummy;
+    dummy = v1.norm() + v2.norm();
+    static_cast<void>(dummy);
+}
+
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_add_compare), OpenMesh::Vec3d);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_add_compare), OpenMesh::Vec3f);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_add_compare), OpenMesh::Vec4d);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_add_compare), OpenMesh::Vec4f);
+
+template<class Vec>
+static void ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_cross_product)(benchmark::State& state) {
+    Vec v1(0.0);
+    Vec v2(1000.0);
+    while (state.KeepRunning()) {
+        v1 += testVec<Vec>();
+        v2 -= testVec<Vec>();
+        v1 = (v1 % v2);
+    }
+    // Just so nothing gets optimized away.
+    static double dummy;
+    dummy = v1.norm() + v2.norm();
+    static_cast<void>(dummy);
+}
+
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_cross_product), OpenMesh::Vec3d);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_cross_product), OpenMesh::Vec3f);
+
+template<class Vec>
+static void ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_scalar_product)(benchmark::State& state) {
+    Vec v1(0.0);
+    Vec v2(1000.0);
+    double acc = 0;
+    while (state.KeepRunning()) {
+        v1 += testVec<Vec>();
+        v2 -= testVec<Vec>();
+        acc += (v1 | v2);
+    }
+    // Otherwise GCC will optimize everything away.
+    static double dummy;
+    dummy = acc;
+    static_cast<void>(dummy);
+}
+
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_scalar_product), OpenMesh::Vec3d);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_scalar_product), OpenMesh::Vec3f);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_scalar_product), OpenMesh::Vec4d);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_scalar_product), OpenMesh::Vec4f);
+
+template<class Vec>
+static void ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_norm)(benchmark::State& state) {
+    Vec v1(0.0);
+    double acc = 0;
+    while (state.KeepRunning()) {
+        v1 += testVec<Vec>();
+        acc += v1.norm();
+    }
+    // Otherwise GCC will optimize everything away.
+    static double dummy;
+    dummy = acc;
+    static_cast<void>(dummy);
+}
+
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_norm), OpenMesh::Vec3d);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_norm), OpenMesh::Vec3f);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_norm), OpenMesh::Vec4d);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_norm), OpenMesh::Vec4f);
+
+template<class Vec>
+static void ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_times_scalar)(benchmark::State& state) {
+    Vec v1(0.0);
+    while (state.KeepRunning()) {
+        v1 += testVec<Vec>();
+        v1 *= static_cast<decltype(v1.norm())>(1.0)/v1[0];
+        v1 *= v1[1];
+    }
+    // Otherwise GCC will optimize everything away.
+    static double dummy;
+    dummy = v1.norm();
+    static_cast<void>(dummy);
+}
+
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_times_scalar), OpenMesh::Vec3d);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_times_scalar), OpenMesh::Vec3f);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_times_scalar), OpenMesh::Vec4d);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_times_scalar), OpenMesh::Vec4f);
+
+#include "VectorT_dummy_data.hpp"
+
+template<class Vec>
+static void ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_add_in_place)(benchmark::State& state) {
+    auto v = make_dummy_vector<Vec>();
+    while (state.KeepRunning()) {
+        v += v;
+    }
+    // Otherwise GCC will optimize everything away.
+    static double dummy = observe_dummy_vector(v);
+    static_cast<void>(dummy);
+}
+
+template<class Vec>
+static void ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_add_temporary)(benchmark::State& state) {
+    auto v = make_dummy_vector<Vec>();
+    while (state.KeepRunning()) {
+        v = v + v;
+    }
+    // Otherwise GCC will optimize everything away.
+    static double dummy = observe_dummy_vector(v);
+    static_cast<void>(dummy);
+}
+
+typedef OpenMesh::VectorT<std::valarray<double>, 3> Vec3VAd;
+typedef OpenMesh::VectorT<std::complex<double>, 3> Vec3Cd;
+
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_add_in_place), Vec3VAd);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_add_temporary), Vec3VAd);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_add_in_place), Vec3Cd);
+MYBENCHMARK_TEMPLATE (ASSEMBLE(BMPOSTFIX, Vec_add_temporary), Vec3Cd);
diff --git a/src/Benchmark/VectorT_dummy_data.cpp b/src/Benchmark/VectorT_dummy_data.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cb2ca113
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Benchmark/VectorT_dummy_data.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#include "VectorT_dummy_data.hpp"
+
+template<> std::valarray<double> make_dummy_component() {
+    return std::valarray<double>(128);
+}
diff --git a/src/Benchmark/VectorT_dummy_data.hpp b/src/Benchmark/VectorT_dummy_data.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..62211c9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Benchmark/VectorT_dummy_data.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <valarray>
+#include <complex>
+
+template<typename T>
+T make_dummy_component() {
+    return T();
+}
+
+template<> std::valarray<double> make_dummy_component();
+
+template<typename Vec>
+Vec make_dummy_vector() {
+    return Vec(make_dummy_component<typename Vec::value_type>());
+}
+
+template<typename Scalar>
+double observe_dummy_component(const Scalar& _s) {
+    return _s;
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+double observe_dummy_component(const std::valarray<T>& _s) {
+    return _s.sum();
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+double observe_dummy_component(const std::complex<T>& _s) {
+    return _s.real() + _s.imag();
+}
+
+template<typename Vec>
+double observe_dummy_vector(const Vec& _vec) {
+    double result = 0.0;
+    for (int dim = 0; dim < _vec.dim(); ++dim) {
+        result += observe_dummy_component(_vec[dim]);
+    }
+    return result;
+}
diff --git a/src/Benchmark/VectorT_legacy.cpp b/src/Benchmark/VectorT_legacy.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8063fa44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Benchmark/VectorT_legacy.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+/*
+ * VectorT_legacy.cpp
+ *
+ *  Created on: Nov 19, 2015
+ *      Author: ebke
+ */
+
+#include <benchmark/benchmark_api.h>
+
+#define OPENMESH_VECTOR_LEGACY
+#include <OpenMesh/Core/Geometry/VectorT.hh>
+
+#define BMPOSTFIX _Legacy
+#include "VectorT.cpp"
diff --git a/src/Benchmark/VectorT_new.cpp b/src/Benchmark/VectorT_new.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ff3e7093
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Benchmark/VectorT_new.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+/*
+ * VectorT_new.cpp
+ *
+ *  Created on: Nov 19, 2015
+ *      Author: ebke
+ */
+
+#include <benchmark/benchmark_api.h>
+#include <OpenMesh/Core/Geometry/VectorT.hh>
+
+#define BMPOSTFIX _CPP11
+#include "VectorT.cpp"
diff --git a/src/Benchmark/main.cpp b/src/Benchmark/main.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eb0427bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Benchmark/main.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+/*
+ * main.cpp
+ *
+ *  Created on: Nov 19, 2015
+ *      Author: ebke
+ */
+
+#include <benchmark/benchmark_api.h>
+
+BENCHMARK_MAIN();
diff --git a/src/OpenMesh/Core/Geometry/Vector11T.hh b/src/OpenMesh/Core/Geometry/Vector11T.hh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eefac1fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/OpenMesh/Core/Geometry/Vector11T.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,832 @@
+/* ========================================================================= *
+ *                                                                           *
+ *                               OpenMesh                                    *
+ *           Copyright (c) 2001-2015, RWTH-Aachen University                 *
+ *           Department of Computer Graphics and Multimedia                  *
+ *                          All rights reserved.                             *
+ *                            www.openmesh.org                               *
+ *                                                                           *
+ *---------------------------------------------------------------------------*
+ * This file is part of OpenMesh.                                            *
+ *---------------------------------------------------------------------------*
+ *                                                                           *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without        *
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions        *
+ * are met:                                                                  *
+ *                                                                           *
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, *
+ *    this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.                  *
+ *                                                                           *
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright      *
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the    *
+ *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.   *
+ *                                                                           *
+ * 3. Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its          *
+ *    contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from   *
+ *    this software without specific prior written permission.               *
+ *                                                                           *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS       *
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED *
+ * TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A           *
+ * PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER *
+ * OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,  *
+ * EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,       *
+ * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR        *
+ * PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF    *
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING      *
+ * NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS        *
+ * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.              *
+ *                                                                           *
+ * ========================================================================= */
+
+#ifndef OPENMESH_SRC_OPENMESH_CORE_GEOMETRY_VECTOR11T_HH_
+#define OPENMESH_SRC_OPENMESH_CORE_GEOMETRY_VECTOR11T_HH_
+
+#include <array>
+#include <utility>
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <numeric>
+#include <type_traits>
+#include <cmath>
+#include <ostream>
+#include <istream>
+#include <cassert>
+#include <cstdlib>
+
+// This header is not needed by this file but expected by others including
+// this file.
+#include <OpenMesh/Core/System/config.h>
+
+
+/*
+ * Helpers for VectorT
+ */
+namespace {
+
+template<typename ... Ts>
+struct are_convertible_to;
+
+template<typename To, typename From, typename ... Froms>
+struct are_convertible_to<To, From, Froms...> {
+    static constexpr bool value = std::is_convertible<From, To>::value
+            && are_convertible_to<To, Froms...>::value;
+};
+
+template<typename To, typename From>
+struct are_convertible_to<To, From> : public std::is_convertible<From, To> {
+};
+}
+
+namespace OpenMesh {
+
+template<typename Scalar, int DIM>
+class VectorT {
+
+        static_assert(DIM >= 1, "VectorT requires positive dimensionality.");
+
+    private:
+        using container = std::array<Scalar, DIM>;
+        container values_;
+
+    public:
+
+        //---------------------------------------------------------------- class info
+
+        /// the type of the scalar used in this template
+        typedef Scalar value_type;
+
+        /// type of this vector
+        typedef VectorT<Scalar, DIM> vector_type;
+
+        /// returns dimension of the vector (deprecated)
+        static constexpr int dim() {
+            return DIM;
+        }
+
+        /// returns dimension of the vector
+        static constexpr size_t size() {
+            return DIM;
+        }
+
+        static constexpr const size_t size_ = DIM;
+
+        //-------------------------------------------------------------- constructors
+
+        /// default constructor creates uninitialized values.
+        constexpr VectorT() {}
+
+        /**
+         * Creates a vector with all components set to v.
+         */
+        explicit VectorT(const Scalar &v) {
+            vectorize(v);
+        }
+
+        template<typename ... T,
+            typename = typename std::enable_if<sizeof...(T) == DIM>::type,
+            typename = typename std::enable_if<
+                are_convertible_to<Scalar, T...>::value>::type>
+        constexpr VectorT(T... vs) : values_ { {static_cast<Scalar>(vs)...} } {
+            static_assert(sizeof...(T) == DIM,
+                    "Invalid number of components specified in constructor.");
+            static_assert(are_convertible_to<Scalar, T...>::value,
+                    "Not all components are convertible to Scalar.");
+        }
+
+        VectorT(const VectorT &rhs) = default;
+        VectorT(VectorT &&rhs) = default;
+        VectorT &operator=(const VectorT &rhs) = default;
+        VectorT &operator=(VectorT &&rhs) = default;
+
+        /**
+         * Only for 4-component vectors with division operator on their
+         * Scalar: Dehomogenization.
+         */
+        template<typename S = Scalar, int D = DIM>
+        auto homogenized() const ->
+            typename std::enable_if<D == 4,
+                VectorT<decltype(std::declval<S>()/std::declval<S>()), DIM>>::type {
+            static_assert(D == DIM, "D and DIM need to be identical. (Never "
+                    "override the default template arguments.)");
+            static_assert(std::is_same<S, Scalar>::value, "S and Scalar need "
+                    "to be the same type. (Never override the default template "
+                    "arguments.)");
+            return VectorT(
+                    values_[0]/values_[3],
+                    values_[1]/values_[3],
+                    values_[2]/values_[3],
+                    1);
+        }
+
+        /// construct from a value array or any other iterator
+        template<typename Iterator,
+            typename = decltype(
+                    *std::declval<Iterator&>(), void(),
+                    ++std::declval<Iterator&>(), void())>
+        explicit VectorT(Iterator it) {
+            std::copy_n(it, DIM, values_.begin());
+        }
+
+        /// copy & cast constructor (explicit)
+        template<typename otherScalarType,
+            typename = typename std::enable_if<
+                std::is_convertible<otherScalarType, Scalar>::value>>
+        explicit VectorT(const VectorT<otherScalarType, DIM>& _rhs) {
+            operator=(_rhs);
+        }
+
+        //--------------------------------------------------------------------- casts
+
+        /// cast from vector with a different scalar type
+        template<typename OtherScalar,
+            typename = typename std::enable_if<
+                std::is_convertible<OtherScalar, Scalar>::value>>
+        vector_type& operator=(const VectorT<OtherScalar, DIM>& _rhs) {
+            std::transform(_rhs.data(), _rhs.data() + DIM,
+                    data(), [](OtherScalar rhs) {
+                        return static_cast<Scalar>(std::move(rhs));
+                    });
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        /// access to Scalar array
+        Scalar* data() { return values_.data(); }
+
+        /// access to const Scalar array
+        const Scalar *data() const { return values_.data(); }
+
+        //----------------------------------------------------------- element access
+
+        /// get i'th element read-write
+        Scalar& operator[](size_t _i) {
+            assert(_i < DIM);
+            return values_[_i];
+        }
+
+        /// get i'th element read-only
+        const Scalar& operator[](size_t _i) const {
+            assert(_i < DIM);
+            return values_[_i];
+        }
+
+        //---------------------------------------------------------------- comparsion
+
+        /// component-wise comparison
+        bool operator==(const vector_type& _rhs) const {
+            return std::equal(_rhs.values_.cbegin(), _rhs.values_.cend(), values_.cbegin());
+        }
+
+        /// component-wise comparison
+        bool operator!=(const vector_type& _rhs) const {
+            return !std::equal(_rhs.values_.cbegin(), _rhs.values_.cend(), values_.cbegin());
+        }
+
+        //---------------------------------------------------------- scalar operators
+
+        /// component-wise self-multiplication with scalar
+        template<typename OtherScalar>
+        auto operator*=(const OtherScalar& _s) ->
+            typename std::enable_if<std::is_convertible<
+                decltype(this->values_[0] * _s), Scalar>::value,
+                VectorT<Scalar, DIM>&>::type {
+            for (auto& e : *this) {
+                e *= _s;
+            }
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        /// component-wise self-division by scalar
+        template<typename OtherScalar>
+        auto operator/=(const OtherScalar& _s) ->
+            typename std::enable_if<std::is_convertible<
+                decltype(this->values_[0] / _s), Scalar>::value,
+                VectorT<Scalar, DIM>&>::type {
+            for (auto& e : *this) {
+                e /= _s;
+            }
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        /// component-wise multiplication with scalar
+        template<typename OtherScalar>
+        typename std::enable_if<std::is_convertible<
+                decltype(std::declval<Scalar>() * std::declval<OtherScalar>()),
+                Scalar>::value,
+            VectorT<Scalar, DIM>>::type
+        operator*(const OtherScalar& _s) const {
+            return vector_type(*this) *= _s;
+        }
+
+        /// component-wise division by with scalar
+        template<typename OtherScalar>
+        typename std::enable_if<std::is_convertible<
+                decltype(std::declval<Scalar>() / std::declval<OtherScalar>()),
+                Scalar>::value,
+            VectorT<Scalar, DIM>>::type
+        operator/(const OtherScalar& _s) const {
+            return vector_type(*this) /= _s;
+        }
+
+        //---------------------------------------------------------- vector operators
+
+        /// component-wise self-multiplication
+        template<typename OtherScalar>
+        auto operator*=(const VectorT<OtherScalar, DIM>& _rhs) ->
+            typename std::enable_if<
+                sizeof(decltype(this->values_[0] * *_rhs.data())) >= 0,
+                vector_type&>::type {
+            for (int i = 0; i < DIM; ++i) {
+                data()[i] *= _rhs.data()[i];
+            }
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        /// component-wise self-division
+        template<typename OtherScalar>
+        auto operator/=(const VectorT<OtherScalar, DIM>& _rhs) ->
+            typename std::enable_if<
+                sizeof(decltype(this->values_[0] / *_rhs.data())) >= 0,
+                vector_type&>::type {
+            for (int i = 0; i < DIM; ++i) {
+                data()[i] /= _rhs.data()[i];
+            }
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        /// vector difference from this
+        template<typename OtherScalar>
+        auto operator-=(const VectorT<OtherScalar, DIM>& _rhs) ->
+            typename std::enable_if<
+                sizeof(decltype(this->values_[0] - *_rhs.data())) >= 0,
+                vector_type&>::type {
+            for (int i = 0; i < DIM; ++i) {
+                data()[i] -= _rhs.data()[i];
+            }
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        /// vector self-addition
+        template<typename OtherScalar>
+        auto operator+=(const VectorT<OtherScalar, DIM>& _rhs) ->
+            typename std::enable_if<
+                sizeof(decltype(this->values_[0] + *_rhs.data())) >= 0,
+                vector_type&>::type {
+            for (int i = 0; i < DIM; ++i) {
+                data()[i] += _rhs.data()[i];
+            }
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        /// component-wise vector multiplication
+        template<typename OtherScalar>
+        auto operator*(const VectorT<OtherScalar, DIM>& _rhs) const ->
+            typename std::enable_if<
+                sizeof(decltype(this->values_[0] * *_rhs.data())) >= 0,
+                vector_type>::type {
+            return vector_type(*this) *= _rhs;
+        }
+
+        /// component-wise vector division
+        template<typename OtherScalar>
+        auto operator/(const VectorT<OtherScalar, DIM>& _rhs) const ->
+            typename std::enable_if<
+                sizeof(decltype(this->values_[0] / *_rhs.data())) >= 0,
+                vector_type>::type {
+            return vector_type(*this) /= _rhs;
+        }
+
+        /// component-wise vector addition
+        template<typename OtherScalar>
+        auto operator+(const VectorT<OtherScalar, DIM>& _rhs) const ->
+            typename std::enable_if<
+                sizeof(decltype(this->values_[0] + *_rhs.data())) >= 0,
+                vector_type>::type {
+            return vector_type(*this) += _rhs;
+        }
+
+        /// component-wise vector difference
+        template<typename OtherScalar>
+        auto operator-(const VectorT<OtherScalar, DIM>& _rhs) const ->
+            typename std::enable_if<
+                sizeof(decltype(this->values_[0] - *_rhs.data())) >= 0,
+                vector_type>::type {
+            return vector_type(*this) -= _rhs;
+        }
+
+        /// unary minus
+        vector_type operator-(void) const {
+            vector_type v;
+            std::transform(values_.begin(), values_.end(), v.values_.begin(),
+                    [](const Scalar &s) { return -s; });
+            return v;
+        }
+
+        /// cross product: only defined for Vec3* as specialization
+        /// \see OpenMesh::cross
+        template<typename OtherScalar>
+        auto operator% (const VectorT<OtherScalar, DIM> &_rhs) const ->
+            typename std::enable_if<DIM == 3,
+                VectorT<decltype(this->values_[0] * _rhs[0] -
+                                 this->values_[0] * _rhs[0]),
+                        DIM>>::type {
+            return {
+                values_[1] * _rhs[2] - values_[2] * _rhs[1],
+                values_[2] * _rhs[0] - values_[0] * _rhs[2],
+                values_[0] * _rhs[1] - values_[1] * _rhs[0]
+            };
+        }
+
+        /// compute scalar product
+        /// \see OpenMesh::dot
+        template<typename OtherScalar>
+        auto operator|(const VectorT<OtherScalar, DIM>& _rhs) const ->
+            decltype(*this->data() * *_rhs.data()) {
+
+            return std::inner_product(data() + 1, data() + DIM, _rhs.data() + 1,
+                    *data() * *_rhs.data());
+        }
+
+        //------------------------------------------------------------ euclidean norm
+
+        /// \name Euclidean norm calculations
+        //@{
+
+        /// compute squared euclidean norm
+        template<typename S = Scalar>
+        decltype(std::declval<S>() * std::declval<S>()) sqrnorm() const {
+            static_assert(std::is_same<S, Scalar>::value, "S and Scalar need "
+                    "to be the same type. (Never override the default template "
+                    "arguments.)");
+            typedef decltype(values_[0] * values_[0]) RESULT;
+            return std::accumulate(values_.cbegin() + 1, values_.cend(),
+                    values_[0] * values_[0],
+                    [](const RESULT &l, const Scalar &r) { return l + r * r; });
+        }
+
+        /// compute euclidean norm
+        template<typename S = Scalar>
+        auto norm() const ->
+            decltype(std::sqrt(std::declval<VectorT<S, DIM>>().sqrnorm())) {
+            static_assert(std::is_same<S, Scalar>::value, "S and Scalar need "
+                    "to be the same type. (Never override the default template "
+                    "arguments.)");
+            return std::sqrt(sqrnorm());
+        }
+
+        template<typename S = Scalar>
+        auto length() const ->
+            decltype(std::declval<VectorT<S, DIM>>().norm()) {
+            static_assert(std::is_same<S, Scalar>::value, "S and Scalar need "
+                    "to be the same type. (Never override the default template "
+                    "arguments.)");
+            return norm();
+        }
+
+        /** normalize vector, return normalized vector
+         */
+        template<typename S = Scalar>
+        auto normalize() ->
+            decltype(*this /= std::declval<VectorT<S, DIM>>().norm()) {
+            static_assert(std::is_same<S, Scalar>::value, "S and Scalar need "
+                    "to be the same type. (Never override the default template "
+                    "arguments.)");
+            return *this /= norm();
+        }
+
+        /** return normalized vector
+         */
+        template<typename S = Scalar>
+        auto normalized() const ->
+            decltype(*this / std::declval<VectorT<S, DIM>>().norm()) {
+            static_assert(std::is_same<S, Scalar>::value, "S and Scalar need "
+                    "to be the same type. (Never override the default template "
+                    "arguments.)");
+            return *this / norm();
+        }
+
+        /** normalize vector, return normalized vector and avoids div by zero
+         */
+        template<typename S = Scalar>
+        typename std::enable_if<
+            sizeof(decltype(
+                static_cast<S>(0),
+                std::declval<VectorT<S, DIM>>().norm())) >= 0,
+            vector_type&>::type
+        normalize_cond() {
+            static_assert(std::is_same<S, Scalar>::value, "S and Scalar need "
+                    "to be the same type. (Never override the default template "
+                    "arguments.)");
+            auto n = norm();
+            if (n != static_cast<decltype(norm())>(0)) {
+                *this /= n;
+            }
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        //@}
+
+        //------------------------------------------------------------ euclidean norm
+
+        /// \name Non-Euclidean norm calculations
+        //@{
+
+        /// compute L1 (Manhattan) norm
+        Scalar l1_norm() const {
+            return std::accumulate(
+                    values_.cbegin() + 1, values_.end(), values_[0]);
+        }
+
+        /// compute l8_norm
+        Scalar l8_norm() const {
+            return max_abs();
+        }
+
+        //@}
+
+        //------------------------------------------------------------ max, min, mean
+
+        /// \name Minimum maximum and mean
+        //@{
+
+        /// return the maximal component
+        Scalar max() const {
+            return *std::max_element(values_.cbegin(), values_.cend());
+        }
+
+        /// return the maximal absolute component
+        Scalar max_abs() const {
+            return std::abs(
+                *std::max_element(values_.cbegin(), values_.cend(),
+                    [](const Scalar &a, const Scalar &b) {
+                return std::abs(a) < std::abs(b);
+            }));
+        }
+
+        /// return the minimal component
+        Scalar min() const {
+            return *std::min_element(values_.cbegin(), values_.cend());
+        }
+
+        /// return the minimal absolute component
+        Scalar min_abs() const {
+            return std::abs(
+                *std::min_element(values_.cbegin(), values_.cend(),
+                    [](const Scalar &a, const Scalar &b) {
+                return std::abs(a) < std::abs(b);
+            }));
+        }
+
+        /// return arithmetic mean
+        Scalar mean() const {
+            return l1_norm()/DIM;
+        }
+
+        /// return absolute arithmetic mean
+        Scalar mean_abs() const {
+            return std::accumulate(values_.cbegin() + 1, values_.end(),
+                    std::abs(values_[0]),
+                    [](const Scalar &l, const Scalar &r) {
+                        return l + std::abs(r);
+                    }) / DIM;
+        }
+
+        /// minimize values: same as *this = min(*this, _rhs), but faster
+        vector_type& minimize(const vector_type& _rhs) {
+            std::transform(values_.cbegin(), values_.cend(),
+                    _rhs.values_.cbegin(),
+                    values_.begin(),
+                    [](const Scalar &l, const Scalar &r) {
+                        return std::min(l, r);
+                    });
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        /// minimize values and signalize coordinate minimization
+        bool minimized(const vector_type& _rhs) {
+            bool result = false;
+            std::transform(values_.cbegin(), values_.cend(),
+                    _rhs.values_.cbegin(),
+                    values_.begin(),
+                    [&result](const Scalar &l, const Scalar &r) {
+                        if (l < r) {
+                            return l;
+                        } else {
+                            result = true;
+                            return r;
+                        }
+                    });
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /// maximize values: same as *this = max(*this, _rhs), but faster
+        vector_type& maximize(const vector_type& _rhs) {
+            std::transform(values_.cbegin(), values_.cend(),
+                    _rhs.values_.cbegin(),
+                    values_.begin(),
+                    [](const Scalar &l, const Scalar &r) {
+                        return std::max(l, r);
+                    });
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        /// maximize values and signalize coordinate maximization
+        bool maximized(const vector_type& _rhs) {
+            bool result = false;
+            std::transform(values_.cbegin(), values_.cend(),
+                    _rhs.values_.cbegin(),
+                    values_.begin(),
+                    [&result](const Scalar &l, const Scalar &r) {
+                        if (l > r) {
+                            return l;
+                        } else {
+                            result = true;
+                            return r;
+                        }
+                    });
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /// component-wise min
+        inline vector_type min(const vector_type& _rhs) const {
+            return vector_type(*this).minimize(_rhs);
+        }
+
+        /// component-wise max
+        inline vector_type max(const vector_type& _rhs) const {
+            return vector_type(*this).maximize(_rhs);
+        }
+
+        //@}
+
+        //------------------------------------------------------------ misc functions
+
+        /// component-wise apply function object with Scalar operator()(Scalar).
+        template<typename Functor>
+        inline vector_type apply(const Functor& _func) const {
+            vector_type result;
+            std::transform(result.values_.begin(), result.values_.end(),
+                    result.values_.begin(), _func);
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /// store the same value in each component (e.g. to clear all entries)
+        vector_type& vectorize(const Scalar& _s) {
+            std::fill(values_.begin(), values_.end(), _s);
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        /// store the same value in each component
+        static vector_type vectorized(const Scalar& _s) {
+            return vector_type().vectorize(_s);
+        }
+
+        /// lexicographical comparison
+        bool operator<(const vector_type& _rhs) const {
+            return std::lexicographical_compare(
+                    values_.begin(), values_.end(),
+                    _rhs.values_.begin(), _rhs.values_.end());
+        }
+
+        //------------------------------------------------------------ component iterators
+
+        /// \name Component iterators
+        //@{
+
+        using iterator               = typename container::iterator;
+        using const_iterator         = typename container::const_iterator;
+        using reverse_iterator       = typename container::reverse_iterator;
+        using const_reverse_iterator = typename container::const_reverse_iterator;
+
+        iterator               begin()         noexcept { return values_.begin();   }
+        const_iterator         begin()   const noexcept { return values_.cbegin();  }
+        const_iterator         cbegin()  const noexcept { return values_.cbegin();  }
+
+        iterator               end()           noexcept { return values_.end();     }
+        const_iterator         end()     const noexcept { return values_.cend();    }
+        const_iterator         cend()    const noexcept { return values_.cend();    }
+
+        reverse_iterator       rbegin()        noexcept { return values_.rbegin();  }
+        const_reverse_iterator rbegin()  const noexcept { return values_.crbegin(); }
+        const_reverse_iterator crbegin() const noexcept { return values_.crbegin(); }
+
+        reverse_iterator       rend()          noexcept { return values_.rend();    }
+        const_reverse_iterator rend()    const noexcept { return values_.crend();   }
+        const_reverse_iterator crend()   const noexcept { return values_.crend();   }
+
+        //@}
+};
+
+/// Component wise multiplication from the left
+template<typename Scalar, int DIM, typename OtherScalar>
+auto operator*(const OtherScalar& _s, const VectorT<Scalar, DIM> &rhs) ->
+    decltype(rhs.operator*(_s)) {
+
+    return rhs * _s;
+}
+
+/// output a vector by printing its space-separated compontens
+template<typename Scalar, int DIM>
+auto operator<<(std::ostream& os, const VectorT<Scalar, DIM> &_vec) ->
+    typename std::enable_if<
+        sizeof(decltype(os << _vec[0])) >= 0, std::ostream&>::type {
+
+    os << _vec[0];
+    for (int i = 1; i < DIM; ++i) {
+        os << " " << _vec[i];
+    }
+    return os;
+}
+
+/// read the space-separated components of a vector from a stream
+template<typename Scalar, int DIM>
+auto operator>> (std::istream& is, VectorT<Scalar, DIM> &_vec) ->
+    typename std::enable_if<
+        sizeof(decltype(is >> _vec[0])) >= 0, std::istream &>::type {
+    for (int i = 0; i < DIM; ++i)
+        is >> _vec[i];
+    return is;
+}
+
+/// \relates OpenMesh::VectorT
+/// symmetric version of the dot product
+template<typename Scalar, int DIM>
+Scalar dot(const VectorT<Scalar, DIM>& _v1, const VectorT<Scalar, DIM>& _v2) {
+  return (_v1 | _v2);
+}
+
+
+/// \relates OpenMesh::VectorT
+/// symmetric version of the cross product
+template<typename LScalar, typename RScalar, int DIM>
+auto
+cross(const VectorT<LScalar, DIM>& _v1, const VectorT<RScalar, DIM>& _v2) ->
+    decltype(_v1 % _v2) {
+  return (_v1 % _v2);
+}
+
+
+//== TYPEDEFS =================================================================
+
+/** 1-byte signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed char,1> Vec1c;
+/** 1-byte unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned char,1> Vec1uc;
+/** 1-short signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed short int,1> Vec1s;
+/** 1-short unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned short int,1> Vec1us;
+/** 1-int signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed int,1> Vec1i;
+/** 1-int unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned int,1> Vec1ui;
+/** 1-float vector */
+typedef VectorT<float,1> Vec1f;
+/** 1-double vector */
+typedef VectorT<double,1> Vec1d;
+
+/** 2-byte signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed char,2> Vec2c;
+/** 2-byte unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned char,2> Vec2uc;
+/** 2-short signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed short int,2> Vec2s;
+/** 2-short unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned short int,2> Vec2us;
+/** 2-int signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed int,2> Vec2i;
+/** 2-int unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned int,2> Vec2ui;
+/** 2-float vector */
+typedef VectorT<float,2> Vec2f;
+/** 2-double vector */
+typedef VectorT<double,2> Vec2d;
+
+/** 3-byte signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed char,3> Vec3c;
+/** 3-byte unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned char,3> Vec3uc;
+/** 3-short signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed short int,3> Vec3s;
+/** 3-short unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned short int,3> Vec3us;
+/** 3-int signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed int,3> Vec3i;
+/** 3-int unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned int,3> Vec3ui;
+/** 3-float vector */
+typedef VectorT<float,3> Vec3f;
+/** 3-double vector */
+typedef VectorT<double,3> Vec3d;
+/** 3-bool vector */
+typedef VectorT<bool,3> Vec3b;
+
+/** 4-byte signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed char,4> Vec4c;
+/** 4-byte unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned char,4> Vec4uc;
+/** 4-short signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed short int,4> Vec4s;
+/** 4-short unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned short int,4> Vec4us;
+/** 4-int signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed int,4> Vec4i;
+/** 4-int unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned int,4> Vec4ui;
+/** 4-float vector */
+typedef VectorT<float,4> Vec4f;
+/** 4-double vector */
+typedef VectorT<double,4> Vec4d;
+
+/** 5-byte signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed char, 5> Vec5c;
+/** 5-byte unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned char, 5> Vec5uc;
+/** 5-short signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed short int, 5> Vec5s;
+/** 5-short unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned short int, 5> Vec5us;
+/** 5-int signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed int, 5> Vec5i;
+/** 5-int unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned int, 5> Vec5ui;
+/** 5-float vector */
+typedef VectorT<float, 5> Vec5f;
+/** 5-double vector */
+typedef VectorT<double, 5> Vec5d;
+
+/** 6-byte signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed char,6> Vec6c;
+/** 6-byte unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned char,6> Vec6uc;
+/** 6-short signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed short int,6> Vec6s;
+/** 6-short unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned short int,6> Vec6us;
+/** 6-int signed vector */
+typedef VectorT<signed int,6> Vec6i;
+/** 6-int unsigned vector */
+typedef VectorT<unsigned int,6> Vec6ui;
+/** 6-float vector */
+typedef VectorT<float,6> Vec6f;
+/** 6-double vector */
+typedef VectorT<double,6> Vec6d;
+
+} // namespace OpenMesh
+
+/**
+ * Literal operator for inline specification of colors in HTML syntax.
+ *
+ * Example:
+ * \code{.cpp}
+ * OpenMesh::Vec4f light_blue = 0x1FCFFFFF_htmlColor;
+ * \endcode
+ */
+constexpr OpenMesh::Vec4f operator"" _htmlColor(unsigned long long raw_color) {
+    return OpenMesh::Vec4f(
+            ((raw_color >> 24) & 0xFF) / 255.0f,
+            ((raw_color >> 16) & 0xFF) / 255.0f,
+            ((raw_color >>  8) & 0xFF) / 255.0f,
+            ((raw_color >>  0) & 0xFF) / 255.0f);
+}
+
+#endif /* OPENMESH_SRC_OPENMESH_CORE_GEOMETRY_VECTOR11T_HH_ */
diff --git a/src/OpenMesh/Core/Geometry/VectorT.hh b/src/OpenMesh/Core/Geometry/VectorT.hh
index 433120a0..5e2aca6f 100644
--- a/src/OpenMesh/Core/Geometry/VectorT.hh
+++ b/src/OpenMesh/Core/Geometry/VectorT.hh
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@
 // bugreport: https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=629182)
 // macro expansion and preprocessor defines
 // don't work properly.
+
+#if (__cplusplus > 199711L || defined(__GXX_EXPERIMENTAL_CXX0X__)) && !defined(OPENMESH_VECTOR_LEGACY)
+#include "Vector11T.hh"
+#else
 #ifndef DOXYGEN
 
 #ifndef OPENMESH_VECTOR_HH
@@ -77,12 +81,6 @@
 #include <xmmintrin.h>
 #endif
 
-#if __cplusplus > 199711L || defined(__GXX_EXPERIMENTAL_CXX0X__)
-#include <array>
-#include <initializer_list>
-#include <type_traits>
-#endif
-
 //== NAMESPACES ===============================================================
 
 
@@ -92,24 +90,6 @@ namespace OpenMesh {
 //== CLASS DEFINITION =========================================================
 
 
-#if __cplusplus > 199711L || defined(__GXX_EXPERIMENTAL_CXX0X__)
-/*
- * Helpers for VectorT
- */
-namespace {
-template<typename... Ts>
-struct are_convertible_to;
-
-template<typename To, typename From, typename... Froms>
-struct are_convertible_to<To, From, Froms...> {
-    static constexpr bool value = std::is_convertible<From, To>::value && are_convertible_to<To, Froms...>::value;
-};
-template<typename To, typename From>
-struct are_convertible_to<To, From> : public std::is_convertible<From, To> {};
-}
-#endif
-
-
 /** The N values of the template Scalar type are the only data members
     of the class VectorT<Scalar,N>. This guarantees 100% compatibility
     with arrays of type Scalar and size N, allowing us to define the
@@ -121,18 +101,7 @@ struct are_convertible_to<To, From> : public std::is_convertible<From, To> {};
 */
 template<typename Scalar, int N> class VectorDataT {
     public:
-#if __cplusplus > 199711L || defined(__GXX_EXPERIMENTAL_CXX0X__)
-        VectorDataT() {}
-
-        template<typename... T>
-        constexpr VectorDataT(T... vs) : values_ {{vs...}} {
-            static_assert(sizeof...(vs) == N,
-                    "Incorrect number of vector components supplied.");
-        }
-        std::array<Scalar, N> values_;
-#else
         Scalar values_[N];
-#endif
 };
 
 
@@ -141,22 +110,9 @@ template<typename Scalar, int N> class VectorDataT {
 /// This specialization enables us to use aligned SSE instructions.
 template<> class VectorDataT<float, 4> {
     public:
-#if __cplusplus > 199711L || defined(__GXX_EXPERIMENTAL_CXX0X__)
-        VectorDataT() {}
-
-        template<typename... T>
-        constexpr VectorDataT(T... vs) : values_ {{vs...}} {
-            static_assert(sizeof...(vs) == 4,
-                    "Incorrect number of vector components supplied.");
-        }
-#endif
         union {
             __m128 m128;
-#if __cplusplus > 199711L || defined(__GXX_EXPERIMENTAL_CXX0X__)
-            std::array<float, 4> values_;
-#else
             float values_[4];
-#endif
         };
 };
 
@@ -432,24 +388,7 @@ typedef VectorT<double,6> Vec6d;
 //=============================================================================
 
 
-#if __cplusplus > 199711L || defined(__GXX_EXPERIMENTAL_CXX0X__)
-/**
- * Literal operator for inline specification of colors in HTML syntax.
- *
- * Example:
- * \code{.cpp}
- * OpenMesh::Vec4f light_blue = 0x1FCFFFFF_htmlColor;
- * \endcode
- */
-constexpr OpenMesh::Vec4f operator"" _htmlColor(unsigned long long raw_color) {
-    return OpenMesh::Vec4f(
-            ((raw_color >> 24) & 0xFF) / 255.0f,
-            ((raw_color >> 16) & 0xFF) / 255.0f,
-            ((raw_color >>  8) & 0xFF) / 255.0f,
-            ((raw_color >>  0) & 0xFF) / 255.0f);
-}
-#endif
-
 #endif // OPENMESH_VECTOR_HH defined
 //=============================================================================
 #endif // DOXYGEN
+#endif // C++11
diff --git a/src/OpenMesh/Core/Geometry/VectorT_inc.hh b/src/OpenMesh/Core/Geometry/VectorT_inc.hh
index 97bc055f..96b6c100 100644
--- a/src/OpenMesh/Core/Geometry/VectorT_inc.hh
+++ b/src/OpenMesh/Core/Geometry/VectorT_inc.hh
@@ -97,28 +97,6 @@ public:
   /// default constructor creates uninitialized values.
   inline VectorT() {}
 
-#if __cplusplus > 199711L || defined(__GXX_EXPERIMENTAL_CXX0X__)
-  explicit inline VectorT(const Scalar &v) {
-      vectorize(v);
-  }
-
-  template<typename... T,
-      typename = typename std::enable_if<sizeof...(T) == DIM>::type,
-      typename = typename std::enable_if<are_convertible_to<Scalar, T...>::value>::type>
-  constexpr VectorT(T... vs) : Base { static_cast<Scalar>(vs)...}
-  { }
-
-  template<int D = DIM, typename = typename std::enable_if<D == DIM>::type>
-  typename std::enable_if<D==4, VectorT>::type
-  homogenized() const {
-      return VectorT(
-              Base::values_[0]/Base::values_[3],
-              Base::values_[1]/Base::values_[3],
-              Base::values_[2]/Base::values_[3],
-              1);
-  }
-
-#else
   /// special constructor for 1D vectors
   explicit inline VectorT(const Scalar& v) {
 //     assert(DIM==1);
@@ -165,7 +143,6 @@ public:
     Base::values_[0]=v0; Base::values_[1]=v1; Base::values_[2]=v2;
     Base::values_[3]=v3; Base::values_[4]=v4; Base::values_[5]=v5;
   }
-#endif
 #endif
 
   /// construct from a value array (explicit)
@@ -210,21 +187,11 @@ public:
 //   /// cast to const Scalar array
 //   inline operator const Scalar*() const { return Base::values_; }
 
-#if __cplusplus > 199711L || defined(__GXX_EXPERIMENTAL_CXX0X__)
-  /// access to Scalar array
-  inline Scalar* data() { return Base::values_.data(); }
-
-  /// access to const Scalar array
-  inline const Scalar*data() const { return Base::values_.data(); }
-#else
   /// access to Scalar array
   inline Scalar* data() { return Base::values_; }
 
   /// access to const Scalar array
   inline const Scalar*data() const { return Base::values_; }
-#endif
-
-
 
 
    //----------------------------------------------------------- element access
diff --git a/src/Python/Vector.hh b/src/Python/Vector.hh
index f43cd14b..68cfaf94 100644
--- a/src/Python/Vector.hh
+++ b/src/Python/Vector.hh
@@ -38,6 +38,71 @@ Scalar get_item(Vector& _vec, int _index) {
 	return 0.0;
 }
 
+namespace {
+template<class Scalar>
+struct Factory {
+    typedef OpenMesh::VectorT<Scalar, 2> Vector2;
+    typedef OpenMesh::VectorT<Scalar, 3> Vector3;
+    typedef OpenMesh::VectorT<Scalar, 4> Vector4;
+
+    static Vector2 *vec2_default() {
+        return new Vector2(Scalar(), Scalar());
+    }
+    static Vector2 *vec2_user_defined(const Scalar& _v0, const Scalar& _v1) {
+        return new Vector2(_v0, _v1);
+    }
+    static Vector3 *vec3_default() {
+        return new Vector3(Scalar(), Scalar(), Scalar());
+    }
+    static Vector3 *vec3_user_defined(const Scalar& _v0, const Scalar& _v1, const Scalar& _v2) {
+        return new Vector3(_v0, _v1, _v2);
+    }
+    static Vector4 *vec4_default() {
+        return new Vector4(Scalar(), Scalar(), Scalar(), Scalar());
+    }
+    static Vector4 *vec4_user_defined(const Scalar& _v0, const Scalar& _v1, const Scalar& _v2, const Scalar& _v3) {
+        return new Vector4(_v0, _v1, _v2, _v3);
+    }
+};
+}
+
+template<class Scalar, int N>
+void defInitMod(class_<OpenMesh::VectorT<Scalar, N>> &classVector);
+
+template<class Scalar>
+void defInitMod(class_<OpenMesh::VectorT<Scalar, 2>> &classVector) {
+    classVector
+        .def("__init__", make_constructor(&Factory<Scalar>::vec2_default))
+        .def("__init__", make_constructor(&Factory<Scalar>::vec2_user_defined))
+        ;
+
+    typedef OpenMesh::VectorT<Scalar, 2> Vector;
+    def("dot", &Vector::operator|);
+}
+template<class Scalar>
+void defInitMod(class_<OpenMesh::VectorT<Scalar, 3>> &classVector) {
+    classVector
+        .def("__init__", make_constructor(&Factory<Scalar>::vec3_default))
+        .def("__init__", make_constructor(&Factory<Scalar>::vec3_user_defined))
+        .def("__mod__", &Factory<Scalar>::Vector3::operator%)
+        ;
+
+    def("cross", &Factory<Scalar>::Vector3::operator%);
+
+    typedef OpenMesh::VectorT<Scalar, 3> Vector;
+    def("dot", &Vector::operator|);
+}
+template<class Scalar>
+void defInitMod(class_<OpenMesh::VectorT<Scalar, 4>> &classVector) {
+    classVector
+        .def("__init__", make_constructor(&Factory<Scalar>::vec4_default))
+        .def("__init__", make_constructor(&Factory<Scalar>::vec4_user_defined))
+        ;
+
+    typedef OpenMesh::VectorT<Scalar, 4> Vector;
+    def("dot", &Vector::operator|);
+}
+
 /**
  * Expose a vector type to %Python.
  *
@@ -86,12 +151,12 @@ void expose_vec(const char *_name) {
 		.def("vectorize", &Vector::vectorize, return_internal_reference<>())
 		.def(self < self)
 
-		.def("norm", &Vector::norm)
-		.def("length", &Vector::length)
-		.def("sqrnorm", &Vector::sqrnorm)
-		.def("normalize", &Vector::normalize, return_internal_reference<>())
-		.def("normalized", &Vector::normalized)
-		.def("normalize_cond", &Vector::normalize_cond, return_internal_reference<>())
+		.def("norm", &Vector::template norm<Scalar>)
+		.def("length", &Vector::template length<Scalar>)
+		.def("sqrnorm", &Vector::template sqrnorm<Scalar>)
+		.def("normalize", &Vector::template normalize<Scalar>, return_internal_reference<>())
+		.def("normalized", &Vector::template normalized<Scalar>)
+		.def("normalize_cond", &Vector::template normalize_cond<Scalar>, return_internal_reference<>())
 
 		.def("l1_norm", &Vector::l1_norm)
 		.def("l8_norm", &Vector::l8_norm)
@@ -115,56 +180,7 @@ void expose_vec(const char *_name) {
 		.staticmethod("vectorized")
 		;
 
-	typedef OpenMesh::VectorT<Scalar, 2> Vector2;
-	typedef OpenMesh::VectorT<Scalar, 3> Vector3;
-	typedef OpenMesh::VectorT<Scalar, 4> Vector4;
-
-	struct Factory {
-		static Vector2 *vec2_default() {
-			return new Vector2(Scalar(), Scalar());
-		}
-		static Vector2 *vec2_user_defined(const Scalar& _v0, const Scalar& _v1) {
-			return new Vector2(_v0, _v1);
-		}
-		static Vector3 *vec3_default() {
-			return new Vector3(Scalar(), Scalar(), Scalar());
-		}
-		static Vector3 *vec3_user_defined(const Scalar& _v0, const Scalar& _v1, const Scalar& _v2) {
-			return new Vector3(_v0, _v1, _v2);
-		}
-		static Vector4 *vec4_default() {
-			return new Vector4(Scalar(), Scalar(), Scalar(), Scalar());
-		}
-		static Vector4 *vec4_user_defined(const Scalar& _v0, const Scalar& _v1, const Scalar& _v2, const Scalar& _v3) {
-			return new Vector4(_v0, _v1, _v2, _v3);
-		}
-	};
-
-	if (N == 2) {
-		classVector
-			.def("__init__", make_constructor(&Factory::vec2_default))
-			.def("__init__", make_constructor(&Factory::vec2_user_defined))
-			;
-	}
-
-	if (N == 3) {
-		classVector
-			.def("__init__", make_constructor(&Factory::vec3_default))
-			.def("__init__", make_constructor(&Factory::vec3_user_defined))
-			.def("__mod__", &Vector3::operator%)
-			;
-
-		def("cross", &Vector3::operator%);
-	}
-
-	if (N == 4) {
-		classVector
-			.def("__init__", make_constructor(&Factory::vec4_default))
-			.def("__init__", make_constructor(&Factory::vec4_user_defined))
-			;
-	}
-
-	def("dot", &Vector::operator|);
+	defInitMod<Scalar, N>(classVector);
 }
 
 } // namespace OpenMesh
diff --git a/src/Unittests/.gitignore b/src/Unittests/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..868a01f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Unittests/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+deleted_output.off
+output.off
+persistence-check.om
+smoothed_STL_output.off
+smoothed_custom_properties_output.off
+smoothed_extended_output.off
+smoothed_output.off
diff --git a/src/Unittests/TestFiles/.gitignore b/src/Unittests/TestFiles/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4f6adcfd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Unittests/TestFiles/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+cube-minimal-customprops_openmeshOutputTestfileBinary.ply
+cube_floating.off
+cube_floating_binary.off
+meshlab_binary.ply
+meshlab_binary_float.ply
+meshlab_float.ply
diff --git a/src/Unittests/unittests_cpp_11_features.cc b/src/Unittests/unittests_cpp_11_features.cc
index ec3cb64b..72915491 100644
--- a/src/Unittests/unittests_cpp_11_features.cc
+++ b/src/Unittests/unittests_cpp_11_features.cc
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ TEST_F(OpenMesh_Triangle, cpp11_vertexrange_test) {
   for(Mesh::VertexHandle t : mesh_.vertices())
   {
     FAIL() << "The Vertexrange for an empty Mesh is not empty";
+    EXPECT_TRUE(t.is_valid()); // Just so we don't get an unused variable warning.
   }
 
   //add vertices to mesh
@@ -110,6 +111,7 @@ TEST_F(OpenMesh_Poly, cpp11_vertexrange_test) {
   for(PolyMesh::VertexHandle t : mesh_.vertices())
   {
     FAIL() << "The Vertexrange for an empty Mesh is not empty";
+    EXPECT_TRUE(t.is_valid()); // Just so we don't get an unused variable warning.
   }
 
   //add vertices to mesh
@@ -140,6 +142,7 @@ TEST_F(OpenMesh_Triangle, cpp11_vvrange_test) {
   for(Mesh::VertexHandle t : mesh_.vv_range(vhandle[0]))
   {
     FAIL() << "The vvrange for a single vertex in a TriMesh is not empty";
+    EXPECT_TRUE(t.is_valid()); // Just so we don't get an unused variable warning.
   }
 
   //add more vertices
@@ -198,6 +201,7 @@ TEST_F(OpenMesh_Poly, cpp11_vvrange_test) {
   for(PolyMesh::VertexHandle t : mesh_.vv_range(vhandle[0]))
   {
     FAIL() << "The vvrange for a single vertex in a PolyMesh is not empty";
+    EXPECT_TRUE(t.is_valid()); // Just so we don't get an unused variable warning.
   }
 
   //add more vertices
diff --git a/src/Unittests/unittests_trimesh_others.cc b/src/Unittests/unittests_trimesh_others.cc
index 03b056e7..14d96e37 100644
--- a/src/Unittests/unittests_trimesh_others.cc
+++ b/src/Unittests/unittests_trimesh_others.cc
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ TEST_F(OpenMeshOthers, CalcDihedralAngre ) {
 
   double difference = fabs( 1.36944 - mesh_.calc_dihedral_angle(eh) );
 
-  EXPECT_TRUE( (difference < 0.00001 ) ) << "Wrong Dihedral angle, Difference is to big!" << std::endl;
+  EXPECT_LT(difference, 0.00001) << "Wrong Dihedral angle, Difference is to big!" << std::endl;
 
 }
 }
diff --git a/src/Unittests/unittests_vector_type.cc b/src/Unittests/unittests_vector_type.cc
index 82e7793b..8ca929ca 100644
--- a/src/Unittests/unittests_vector_type.cc
+++ b/src/Unittests/unittests_vector_type.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include <gtest/gtest.h>
 #include <Unittests/unittests_common.hh>
 #include <iostream>
+#include <list>
 
 namespace {
 
@@ -115,6 +116,8 @@ TEST_F(OpenMeshVectorTest, cpp11_constructors) {
 TEST_F(OpenMeshVectorTest, cpp11_htmlColorLiteral) {
     static constexpr OpenMesh::Vec4f rose = 0xFFC7F1FF_htmlColor;
 
+    EXPECT_EQ(0xFFC7F1FF_htmlColor, rose);
+
     const OpenMesh::Vec4f light_blue = 0x1FCFFFFF_htmlColor;
     EXPECT_LE((OpenMesh::Vec4f(0.1215686274f, 0.8117647058f, 1.0f, 1.0f)
         - light_blue).sqrnorm(), 1e-10);
@@ -125,6 +128,199 @@ TEST_F(OpenMeshVectorTest, cpp11_htmlColorLiteral) {
         ::value, "Bad type deduced from _htmlColor literal.");
     EXPECT_EQ(light_blue, light_blue_2);
 }
-#endif
+
+
+namespace {
+class C {
+    public:
+        C() {}
+        C(const C &rhs) { ADD_FAILURE() << "Copy constructor used."; }
+        C(C &&rhs) { ++copy_con; }
+        C &operator= (const C &rhs) {
+            ADD_FAILURE() << "Copy assignemnt used.";
+            return *this;
+        }
+        C &operator= (C &&rhs) { ++copy_ass; return *this; }
+
+        static int copy_con;
+        static int copy_ass;
+};
+
+int C::copy_con = 0;
+int C::copy_ass = 0;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Checks two things:
+ *   1) Whether VectorT works with a non-arithmetic type.
+ *   2) Whether move construction and assignment works.
+ */
+TEST_F(OpenMeshVectorTest, move_constructor_assignment) {
+
+    C::copy_con = 0;
+    C::copy_ass = 0;
+
+    // Test move assigning.
+    OpenMesh::VectorT<C, 3> x, y;
+    x = std::move(y);
+    EXPECT_EQ(3, C::copy_ass);
+    EXPECT_EQ(0, C::copy_con);
+
+    // Test move constructing.
+    OpenMesh::VectorT<C, 3> z(std::move(x));
+    EXPECT_EQ(3, C::copy_ass);
+    EXPECT_EQ(3, C::copy_con);
+}
+
+TEST_F(OpenMeshVectorTest, iterator_init) {
+    std::list<float> a;
+    a.push_back(1.0);
+    a.push_back(2.0);
+    a.push_back(3.0);
+    OpenMesh::Vec3f v(a.begin());
+    EXPECT_EQ(OpenMesh::Vec3f(1.0, 2.0, 3.0), v);
+}
+
+#endif // C++11
+
+
+TEST_F(OpenMeshVectorTest, BasicArithmeticInPlace) {
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v1(1, 2, 3);
+    double s1 = 2;
+    const double epsilon = 1e-6;
+
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v2add (3, 4, 6); v2add  += v1;
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v2sub (3, 4, 6); v2sub  -= v1;
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v2cmul(3, 4, 6); v2cmul *= v1;
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v2cdiv(3, 4, 6); v2cdiv /= v1;
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v2smul(3, 4, 6); v2smul *= s1;
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v2sdiv(3, 4, 6); v2sdiv /= s1;
+
+    EXPECT_NEAR(4, v2add[0], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(6, v2add[1], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(9, v2add[2], epsilon);
+
+    EXPECT_NEAR(2, v2sub[0], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(2, v2sub[1], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(3, v2sub[2], epsilon);
+
+    EXPECT_NEAR( 3, v2cmul[0], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR( 8, v2cmul[1], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(18, v2cmul[2], epsilon);
+
+    EXPECT_NEAR(3, v2cdiv[0], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(2, v2cdiv[1], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(2, v2cdiv[2], epsilon);
+
+    EXPECT_NEAR( 6, v2smul[0], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR( 8, v2smul[1], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(12, v2smul[2], epsilon);
+
+    EXPECT_NEAR(1.5, v2sdiv[0], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(2.0, v2sdiv[1], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(3.0, v2sdiv[2], epsilon);
+}
+
+TEST_F(OpenMeshVectorTest, BasicArithmeticImmutable) {
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v1(1, 2, 3);
+    const double epsilon = 1e-6;
+
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v2add  = v1 + OpenMesh::Vec3d(2, 4, 6);
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v2sub  = v1 - OpenMesh::Vec3d(2, 4, 6);
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v2cmul = v1 * OpenMesh::Vec3d(2, 4, 6);
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v2cdiv = v1 / OpenMesh::Vec3d(2, 4, 6);
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v2smul = v1 * 2.0;
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v2sdiv = v1 / 2.0;
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v2neg  = -v1;
+
+    EXPECT_NEAR(3, v2add[0], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(6, v2add[1], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(9, v2add[2], epsilon);
+
+    EXPECT_NEAR(-1, v2sub[0], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(-2, v2sub[1], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(-3, v2sub[2], epsilon);
+
+    EXPECT_NEAR( 2, v2cmul[0], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR( 8, v2cmul[1], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(18, v2cmul[2], epsilon);
+
+    EXPECT_NEAR(0.5, v2cdiv[0], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(0.5, v2cdiv[1], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(0.5, v2cdiv[2], epsilon);
+
+    EXPECT_NEAR(2, v2smul[0], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(4, v2smul[1], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(6, v2smul[2], epsilon);
+
+    EXPECT_NEAR(0.5, v2sdiv[0], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(1.0, v2sdiv[1], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(1.5, v2sdiv[2], epsilon);
+
+    EXPECT_NEAR(-1, v2neg[0], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(-2, v2neg[1], epsilon);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(-3, v2neg[2], epsilon);
+}
+
+TEST_F(OpenMeshVectorTest, BasicLinearAlgebra) {
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v(1, 2, 3);
+    EXPECT_EQ(v[0], 1.0);
+    EXPECT_EQ(v[1], 2.0);
+    EXPECT_EQ(v[2], 3.0);
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(OpenMesh::Vec3d(-1, -2, -3), -v);
+    EXPECT_EQ(3, OpenMesh::Vec3d(1, 3, 2).max());
+    EXPECT_EQ(3, OpenMesh::Vec3d(1, 2, 3).max());
+    EXPECT_EQ(3, OpenMesh::Vec3d(1, 3, -4).max());
+    EXPECT_EQ(3, OpenMesh::Vec3d(-4, 2, 3).max());
+    EXPECT_EQ(4, OpenMesh::Vec3d(1, 3, -4).max_abs());
+    EXPECT_EQ(4, OpenMesh::Vec3d(-4, 2, 3).max_abs());
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(1, OpenMesh::Vec3d(1, 3, 2).min());
+    EXPECT_EQ(1, OpenMesh::Vec3d(1, 2, 3).min());
+    EXPECT_EQ(-4, OpenMesh::Vec3d(1, 3, -4).min());
+    EXPECT_EQ(-4, OpenMesh::Vec3d(-4, 2, 3).min());
+    EXPECT_EQ(1, OpenMesh::Vec3d(1, 3, -4).min_abs());
+    EXPECT_EQ(2, OpenMesh::Vec3d(-4, 2, 3).min_abs());
+
+    EXPECT_NEAR(14, OpenMesh::Vec3d(1, 2, 3) | OpenMesh::Vec3d(1, 2, 3), 1e-6);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(-14, OpenMesh::Vec3d(1, 2, 3) | OpenMesh::Vec3d(-1, -2, -3), 1e-6);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(14, OpenMesh::Vec3d(-1, -2, -3) | OpenMesh::Vec3d(-1, -2, -3), 1e-6);
+}
+
+TEST_F(OpenMeshVectorTest, array_init) {
+    float a[3]; a[0] = 1.0; a[1] = 2.0; a[2] = 3.0;
+    OpenMesh::Vec3f v(a);
+    EXPECT_EQ(OpenMesh::Vec3f(1.0, 2.0, 3.0), v);
+
+    // This should not invoke the array constructor.
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v2(3.0f);
+}
+
+TEST_F(OpenMeshVectorTest, normalized_cond) {
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v1(1, -2, 3), v2(0, 0, 0);
+    EXPECT_EQ(OpenMesh::Vec3d(0, 0, 0), v2.normalize_cond());
+    const OpenMesh::Vec3d r1 =
+            OpenMesh::Vec3d(
+                     0.2672612419124244,
+                    -0.5345224838248488,
+                     0.8017837257372732) - v1.normalize_cond();
+    EXPECT_NEAR(r1[0], 0.0, 1e-12);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(r1[1], 0.0, 1e-12);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(r1[2], 0.0, 1e-12);
+}
+
+TEST_F(OpenMeshVectorTest, size_dim) {
+    OpenMesh::Vec3d v3d(1, 2, 3);
+    OpenMesh::Vec3f v3f(1, 2, 3);
+    OpenMesh::Vec2i v2i(1, 2);
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(3u, v3d.size());
+    EXPECT_EQ(3, v3d.dim());
+    EXPECT_EQ(3u, v3f.size());
+    EXPECT_EQ(3, v3f.dim());
+    EXPECT_EQ(2u, v2i.size());
+    EXPECT_EQ(2, v2i.dim());
+}
 
 }