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BMW i3 EV to get BMW motorcycle engine as range extender?

BMW i3 to get motorcycle range-extender engine? The only real way to make an electric car – any electric car – come close to being a viable replacement for an ICE car is to fit it with a small engine to extend its range and charge its batteries when reserves get low. The range extender is the technology the Chevy Volt and Opel Ampera use to make their cars suitable for more than just short urban commuting, and it’s something BMW are planning as an option for the i3.

Jaguar Lightweight E-Type makes a comeback after 50 years – 6 new Lightweights to be built

6 new Jaguar Lightweight E-Types on the way Even in 1963, car makers made ‘special editions’ of production cars, and one such car was the Jaguar Lightweight E-Type, a lightweight version of the then new production E-Type designed to take Jaguar racing. This was in the days before carbon fibre panels, so Jaguar built many of the body panels from aluminium and fitted an aluminium block version of the 3.8 litre engine from the production E-Type with 300bhp (55bhp more than the road car), fuel injection and a ZF 5-speed gearbox. The Lightweight E-Type wasn’t a spectacular success on the track, and Jaguar ended up building just 12 of the original planned run of 18.

Citroën DS Numéro 9 set to woo new Chinese bourgeoisie [w/video]

The Citroën DS Numéro 9, which will make its debut at the Beijing auto show, marks a return of luxury French motoring – a segment the nation has shied away from in recent years. This follows the poor sales of cars such as the Renault Vel Satis, Peugeot 607 and Citroën's own C6 beyond the handful of examples commandeered to whisk French politicians between Parisian Arrondissements. However while the desire for Gallic limos has all but died in their traditional heartlands, the demand for European luxe amongst the growing Chinese bourgeoisie – be it fashion, wine or cars – offers a new lifeline to the French curios we all love other people to own.