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BMW i3 Range Extender engine adds 10% to the price

BMW i3 Range Extender engine adds 10% to the price The BMW i3 – BMW’s first foray in to a world of electric cars – was officially revealed in July – and due on sale in 2014 – and seems, by electric car standards, to be almost affordable. At a starting price of £30,680 – £25,680 after the taxpayer bribe for EV buyers – it’s no more expensive than other electric cars and does come with some clever technology – and the BMW badge – that will help it move out of showrooms. But as we reported as far back as 2011, the BMW i3 is to get a range-extender option – a small petrol engine that kicks in to recharge the batteries when they get low – which will make the i3 a much more practical proposition.

Hyundai & Kia get Google Maps integration – but not in UK

Hyundai and Kia are adding Google Maps functionality to their SatNav Systems in the US, but it’s not coming to the UK any time soon. In the US, Hyundai has a clever system called Blue Link (Kia has a similar system called UVO) that offers increased functionality for stuff like the SatNav, Remote Access, Location Sharing and Enhanced Recovery. It costs a few hundred dollars a year (for the all-singing, all-dancing version), but makes your Hyundai much smarter than the average bear.

GM launches test program in California selling cars on eBay

General Motors and eBay are partnering for a four-week selling spree in California. Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Pontiac dealers in the Sunshine State will sell up to 20,000 cars on gm.ebay.com from Aug. 11 to Sept.