New details emerge on BMW i3 MegaCity vehicle

Car & Driver is reporting new details on the upcoming BMW i3 MegaCity electric vehicle.

The report states that the electric motor on the i3 will produce around 150 PS (110 kW / 148 bhp) with a range of circa 257 km (160 miles) and a top speed of 160 km/h (100 mph).

The compact EV will be built at a BMW plant in Leipzig and production will be 40,000 units a year, according to the report.

The i3 will also make extensive use of carbon-fiber, including in the construction of the passenger cell which will be made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). The "LifeDrive architecture" also features an aluminum chassis. The car will have a rear-mounted electric motor with the batteries mounted under the floor of the vehicle.

BMW is slated to roll out the i3 MegaCity in 2013 under the new 'i' sub-brand the automaker has created to market a new range of hybrid-electric and fully-electric vehicles.

Price tag on the vehicle will be around $35,000 in the United States, according to Car & Driver, but in Europe we expect the i3 to start at around €40,000.