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Design Essay: BMW i – Setting the industry agenda for the next decade

Many have already dismissed BMW i as a radical experiment too far ahead of its time, but looking beyond the glossy carbon fiber facade reveals three ways it will change the automotive landscape during the next decade: 1. Re-define the EV category Despite Tesla, Nissan, GM, Renault and Toyota all operating in the EV space, global sales in 2012 totaled just 54,000. Many put this down to high-cost and range anxiety, but another key factor is nearly always overlooked.

Subaru BRZ STI teased

Subaru are teasing the BRZ STI (pictured) The Subaru BRZ – the Subaru take on the Toyota GT86 – has the potential to be a lot more hardcore than its current setup allows. That has led to much speculation that Subaru will bolt a turbo on to the BRZ’s Boxer engine to produce a BRZ with something closer to the 300bhp we originally expected. In fact, at the end of 2011, Subaru in the US confirmed there would be a turbo version of the engine in the BRZ, although they fell short of actually confirming the BRZ itself would get it as an option, but at the end of 2012 we had a report that the BRZ will get the turbo engine and that it will deliver 280bhp.

Kia GT could spawn Coupe and Estate

Kia GT could spawn 2 door coupe and estate variants The Kia GT Concept from Frankfurt is heading for production in 2013, and it looks like it could be joined by a Coupe and Estate. It’s not just Hyundai who are starting to push in to the luxury and performance territory currently dominated by the Germans, sister company Kia is getting in on the act too, with cars like the very convincing Kia GT we saw at the Frankfurt Motor Show this year. The Kia GT is a four-door swoopy coupe with RWD and a 3.3 litre turbo V6 kicking out 390bhp, 394lb/ft of torque and looking every bit as convincing as anything that could be considered competition.