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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.

Changan CS35

Changan CS35 unveiled its first compact urban SUV concept at the recent Beijing auto show, designed at the company's European Design Center under Luciano D'Ambrosio. The CS35's horizontal grille with its Changan logo is similar in style to the Changan Yidong, while its side features a diving waistline and four prominent wheel arches reminiscent of the Ford Kuga. The C-pillar design is distinctive with its graphic split from the roof and the use of the brand's logo as a decorative feature.

Local Motors Texas Competition Results

Local Motors has announced the winners of the Texas Motor competition, the independent car company's 19th competition. Tasked with designing a vehicle that was a ready-made solution for sportsmen in the great state of Texas, entrants were asked to submit their creations via the Local Motors website. The winning design, selected by members of the Local Motors community, was created by Acatrinei Lucian Nicolae.