The latest electric car to come from BMW will debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Called the ActiveE, it follows the MINI E but is both bigger and more advanced.
Due to start trials this year, with 1,000 hitting the roads of America, China and Europe, the ActiveE has an innovative 'gliding mode' that allows the car to coast off the throttle without any engine braking, as is usually the case with electric cars.
Power is from a 168hp electric motor and lithium ion batteries allowing a 0-100km/h time of nine seconds. Top speed is 145km/h. It retains BMW's preciously adhered to 50/50 weight distribution and it's rear-wheel drive.
It will charge fully in five hours from a 32-amp supply, or 'overnight' from a household socket. It has a mode called Eco Pro that reduces the amount of power sucked by the air conditioning and recalibrates the throttle so that it too draws on less juice. It's the antidote to your heavy foot and excessive cooling needs.
BMW says the ActiveE suffers no loss of head-, leg- or shoulder room compared to a normal 1 Series Coupé, though the boot shrinks to 200 litres (from 370).
No plans for production of this car yet, but BMW says the 1,000-car study will feed back into the Megacity project, due to see showrooms in 2013. That's BMW first full production electric city car, if you're wondering.