BMW i3 spied

BMW i3 caught playing in the snow.

Just a few weeks on from the launch of BMW’s new “i” sub-brand, and we have the first spy photo of the BMW i3 out and about in the Scandinavian snow.

It seems BMW were busy filming this quite heavily camouflaged i3 for BMW TV when it was snapped, so it seems likely we may be seeing some video soon.

Looking nothing like any BMW you can think of, the i3 has a snub nose – reminiscent of the Toyota Aygo – with nothing much behind it. The i3 is rear engined and drives the rear wheels – or at least that was the plan.

As far as we know, the initial plans are to produce the BMW i3 as a pure EV with around 100 mile range. But as we revealed last month, BMW intends offering a range-extender engine in the MegaCity cars to make them more than just a small, urban EV.

But whatever the powertrain, it looks certain that the i3 will be rear wheel drive with a carbon fibre passenger cell and liberal use of aluminium when it hits the road in 2013.

And it won’t be cheap.

By Cars UK