BMW ActiveE – the BMW 1-Series Electric – at Detroit

BMW has reveled the BMW Concept ActiveE at the Detroit Motor Show BMW obviously think there’s room for more than just the MINI E to be punted round the roads by Joe Public to shake out all the wrinkles in their electric car gubbins as they’ve brought along the BMW ActiveE Concept to the Detroit Motor Show – basically an electric BMW 1 Series – which we first reported on back in December. The ActiveE Concept gets a rear mounted electric motor that divvies up 170bhp. Unlike the MINI E BMW has managed to stick the batteries under the car instead of ripping out the back seats to store them.

Hyundai i10 i-Blue for 2010

The Hyundai i10 i-Blue is based on the Hyundai i10 Blue CNG concept (above) So where are Hyundai off to now with their ‘best budget buy’ cars? They’re off down the 3-pot road, with the introduction in the New Year of the Hyundai i10 i-Blue - an 800cc three-pot engined car that should give crackingly good economy and emissions. Based on the 2008 Hyundai i10 Blue CNG Concept that was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 2008, its 800cc, turbo-charged three-cylinder engine should be good for 90bhp and slip in to the free VED bracket, with less than 100g/km CO2 emissions.

Fewer commuters but longer journeys

PEOPLE ARE TRAVELLING further to get to work but the number of commuters is falling as more staff work from home, according to official figures. Based on Census statistics, the average distance travelled to work in England and Wales increased from 8.3 miles (13.4km) in 2001 to 9.32 miles (15km) in 2011. Those living in the Midlands and south west England had the largest increase in average distance travelled between 2001 and 2011 - going an extra 1.36 miles (2.2km).