"BMW's i3 is a milestone vehicle in many respects and illustrates the automaker's expansive vision of future motoring," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and CarsOfChange.com.

BMW's vision of sustainability has developed considerably since the launch of the i3 in 2013 ... use aluminum wheels manufactured with 100% green power. Roughly 50% of our copper is recycled ...

At the heart of the BMW i3 is a bespoke electric motor tagged BMW eDrive, which its maker also refers to as hybrid synchronous in design. It was developed in-house and is also used in the BMW i8.

However, the regular 3er – likely to be known as the G50 – looks set to wear a more conventional skin but with its own take on the Neue Klasse grille and headlights.