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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.

Consulatation on 20mph speed limit

BIRMINGHAM City Council has launched a public consultation on plans which could see around 90% of roads in the city given a 20mph speed limit. The authority believes the "20 is Plenty" scheme, costing around £7 million, would make residential streets safer and transport networks more sustainable. Key routes would keep higher speed limits under the long-term proposals, but public feedback is also being sought on whether the 20mph scheme should also be considered for busy high street shopping areas, around schools, leisure facilities, hospitals and public transport interchanges.

BMW i8 revealed: The BMW Vision ED lives

BMW i8 Revealed Today BMW reveals the i8 Concept, the production concept of the Vision EfficientDynamics supercar we saw back in 2009 and, for BMW, their way forward in a more eco-conscious world. But being aware of the climate doesn’t mean the joy has to be taken from the drive, and the BMW i8 aims to offer a car which can claim a green halo be also be a stimulating and appealing car for the petrolhead. The i8 is remarkably similar to the original Vision ED Concept, although it has dumped the 1.5 litre diesel the Concept has for a new 1.5 litre petrol engine with direct injection which develops 220bhp and 221lb/ft of torque.