BMW has confirmed it will create a new sub-brand to sell its most environmentally friendly vehicles under.
The brand will operate in a similar way to BMW's "M" label for its high-performance cars, according to company chief Norbert Reithofer.
A BMW statement said: "The Board has now decided: This auto will be launched on the market as a sub-brand of BMW. As BMW is the innovation driver within the Group, the decision for a sub brand under BMW is the most logical step. Details on this topic will be made known later this year."
Speculation has suggested BMW will opt for either 'E'or 'EV' for the name of its sub-brand.
However, the 'Metro' name still belongs to BMW and has been closely guarded in recent years - it is believed BMW requested Audi drop the Metro name it used to launch its Audi A1 Metroproject concept car in 2007.
Full details are expected to be announced at this September's Frankfurt motor show.
In a separate statement BMW also announced an agreement with SB LiMotive, which is jointly owned by Samsung SDI and Bosch, for the supply of lithium-ion battery packs.
These will be used as part of BMW’s electric Megacity car project, which is also expected to fall under the new sub-brand.
BMW already has the electric Mini E under development as part of its portfolio.
Thanks to: Autocar
It's back to basics for sportscar legend Mazda - the Japanese firm will premiere a super-light version of its best selling MX-5 sports car at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
Dubbed the Mazda MX-5 Superlight, the concept celebrates 20 years of success with an open-topped, no-frills design focusing on affordable driving fun.
Created by Mazda’s studio in Oberursel, Germany, the two-seat roadster has been pared back to the bare essentials.
As these official Mazda pictures demonstrate, the Superlight concept is a roofless speedster offering only minimal protection from the elements. The cabin is a race inspired affair in keeping with the radical exterior.
A spiritual successor to the dramatic RenaultSport Spyder, Mazda claims that the Superlight concept takes the lightweight nature of the MX-5 to a whole new level, so expect extensive use of exotic materials amongst other weight saving measures.
Engine output has not been revealed, however the radical weight loss alone would make faster than your regular MX-5. Options open to engineers include the turbocharged 2.3-litre unit that offers up to 260bhp in the Mazda 3 MPS
In addition to the performance benefits of lightweight construction, Mazda is keen to stress the fuel saving and emission reductions possible with a lighter vehicle.For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express
It's the BMW that’ll turn rivals green with envy. The German firm has announced that it will unveil its cleanest, meanest sports concept yet at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
Our sources have hinted that the car will be a rear-driven, mid-engined two-seater, inspired by last year’s M1 Homage concept (below). Plus, it will feature all the latest fuel and energy-saving technologies, including KERS regenerative braking and engine stop-start.
The company also confirmed the concept will be joined by ActiveHybrid versions of the 7-Series and X6, promising over 15 per cent better economy. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express
Prepare yourself for a shock! Renault is set to be crowned the king of electric cars when it unveils an entire family of EVs at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, Auto Express has learned.
The French firm’s show stand will make history – as the first from a mainstream car maker to only feature battery-powered cars. The company is set to take the covers off an unprecedented four never-seen-before electric concepts
Renault has its sights set on becoming the world leader in electric vehicle technology. And heading the line-up is a new supermini-sized offering. Designed from the ground up to be fitted with a compact lithium-ion battery pack and high-performance motor, it’s the first in a new wave of purpose-built electric cars, rather than a retro fit to a combustion-engined model.
Sharing a platform with Nissan’s Leaf EV will keep the price down, while packaging tricks such as placing the battery pack under the floor will maximise interior space.
Also bursting on to the scene at Frankfurt will be a city car concept, a prototype of which is shown here in our exclusive spy shot. It will go head to head with Toyota’s upcoming electric variant
of the iQ and the Smart EV.
An all-electric conversion of the current Mégane will break cover, too – marking a significant step for the firm. The converted hatch will be the first Renault to go on sale in Israel, a country with a rapidly developing EV infrastructure. Completing the Frankfurt stars will be an updated version of the Kangoo Be Bop EV mini-MPV.
The electric motors will range from 50kW to 100kW, or 70bhp to 140bhp in more conventional terms. That means acceleration should be comparable to a 1.6-litre hatchback, delivering 0-60mph in around ten seconds. More intriguing, though, is Renault’s claim that the top speed of each electric car sold will be specific to the country in which it’s registered. UK cars, for example, will be capped electronically at 70mph.
Depending on the weight of your right foot and whether you call the air-conditioning into action, the range on a full charge for all these models should be in the region of 60 to 110 miles.
By Renault’s calculation, even when you factor in the cost for hiring the battery pack, running one of its EVs will cost 20 per cent less than a petrol or diesel model, based on driving 9,000 miles a year. But of course, the major benefit is zero emissions. Even when you consider the air pollution caused in producing the electricity, these are cleaner and more efficient machines.
However, the public will have to wait until 2011 before they can pick up a battery-powered Renault. But you might just spot one on the road as soon as 2010, when the firm will be testing them in the UK. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express
