Peugeot BB1 concept nearing to production

The Peugeot BB1 concept EV is nearing closer to production after Peugeot confirmed it had moved from concept car status to project status. That means the vehicle may launch in 2012/2013 and Peugeot design director, Gilles Vidal said he hopes the production BB1 will very much look like the concept car.

The vehicle's official categorisation is being mooted. The BB1 has handle bars and a twist-grip accelerator and passengers sit pillion style behind the driver. Although, homologation for a quadricyle is complicated because different countries have different definitions of what a quadricyle is. For example, in France a quadricyle is not allowed on the motorway and the UK has two classes of quadricyle, depending on the vehicle's weight and power.

Classifying the BB1 EV as a car could make homologation more direct.

The BB1 is just 2.5m long and weighs a mere 600kg. It is powered by two electric motors mounted on the rear axle, producing 19bhp combined. Despite being low on power, the BB1 can reach 20mph in just 2.8 seconds and has a 75 miles range.

BMW Gran Coupe concept green-lighted for production

BMW will inveterate that the Gran Coupe Concept will reach production. The design of the Audi A7-rival will be shared with the forthcoming 6 Series Coupe.

Speaking at an event in Munich, Klaus Draeger, an associate of BMW's Board of Management, said that the GCC will become a 6-Series "four-door coupe". He implied the car would launch in late 2012.

To be sold as the BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe, several engines and models will be offered: two petrols & diesels, a hybrid, and an M variant. So expect a 300bhp (304PS) 3.0 litre 6 cylinder (hybrids will have a 54bhp (55PS) electric motor), 400bhp (406PS) 4.4 litre V8 petrol, 3.0 litre diesel with 204bhp (207PS) and 245bhp (248 PS), and a twin-turbo V8 with 555bhp (563PS) to 570bhp (578PS).

Other than talking about the production GCC, Draeger mentioned BMW has designed and built a 6 Series Shooting Brake. It hasn't been confirmed for production, but market evaluation studies are currently in progress.