2000 Mazda 626 Master Window Switch (fits 98-02) on 2040-parts.com

BMW i3 EV revealed. It’s clever, but it’s not exactly pretty

The BMW i3 electric city car (pictured) has been officially revealed The BMW i3 – the first of BMW’s production ‘i’ electric cars – has finally been revealed at events in London, New York and Beijing as BMW plots its course to bring a premium electric city car to the world. Looking much like the original Mega City Concept, the i3 debuts a number of innovations from BMW – which are very clever – but it also debuts perhaps the worst looking BMW we’ve ever seen, with its incongruous lines, bulging bonnet, odd shapes on the flanks and slab-backed rear view. But what underpins the i3 is clever indeed, with a lightweight inner body made from carbon fibre and carbon fibre reinforced body panels providing the skin, all conspiring to make the i3 light – 1195kg, despite 25 per cent or so of that being batteries – and very rigid.

BMW vs Alfa design. Separated at birth?

CAR Online reader reckons there's something in the water in Munich and Turin By Nour Kanafani Motoring Issues 22 December 2008 17:19 CAR Online reader Nour Kanafani sent in this photo and a delightfully succinct caption, which got us thinking... Remember you can upload your own scoops and news stories by scrolling to the foot of each page and clicking 'Upload stories, photos or videos direct to the site''If BMWs looked like Alfas and Alfas drove like BMWs'... At least we have the first one settled!

Aston Martin Cygnet preview

Aston Martin has developed a new 'innovative commuter concept car' called the Cygnet. If you're thinking it looks like the design team's placed a downsized Aston Martin grille onto a Toyota iQ, you wouldn't be far off. The luxury commuter concept, which Aston Martin claims will 'offer customers a distinctive, intelligent and exclusive solution for urban travel in style and luxury' is actually based on the diminutive urban runabout and was created in collaboration with the Japanese automaker.