BMW 1 Series Lifestyle & BMW 1 Series Sport revealed

The BMW 1 Series Lifestyle - available as a 118d or a 120i First up is the BMW 1 Series Lifestyle, which gets a Marakesh Brown paint job (BMW’s favourite colour it would seem at the moment – the new BMW X1 cars are all showing up in that colour), interior components in matching colour, chrome tipped exhaust and 17″ alloys. The second limited edition is the BMW 1 Series Sport, which gets an M-Sports package (including sports suspension, steering wheel and gearlever), unique double-spoke alloys and stainless steel pedals. Both the 1 Series Limited Editions will be available in either 3 or 5 door versions, and you can have either the 2.0 litre petrol – 170bhp and 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds – or the 2.0 litre diesel – 143bhp and 0-60mph in 9 seconds.

GM plants solar field at Chevrolet Volt factory

Looking to put a charge in its eco-friendly image, General Motors is installing a 264,000-square-foot solar field at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant that builds the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid sedan. The solar field, being built in cooperation with utility DTE Energy, will generate 516 kilowatts. GM says that’s enough power to charge up 150 Volts every day for a year.

Renault working on 141mpg plug-in hybrid concept

Renault is working on a 141mpg plug-in hybrid concept car to be shown at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, according to Renault head of research, advanced studies and materials, Remi Bastien. Speaking to at Renault’s ‘Innovations’ event last year – showcasing the French manufacturer’s new technology that will underpin its next-generation models – Bastien revealed the new car will make its debut in 2014. On Bing: see pictures of Renaults Find out how much a used Renault costs on Auto Trader This means the ‘2l/100km’ concept car will likely make its first public appearance at Renault’s home Paris Motor Show in October, debuting experimental technology that could later filter down to other models in the Renault range.