2012 Olympic show for BMW Megacity

BMW will use the 2012 Olympics in London as an opportunity to showcase its revolutionary Megacity car, according to company sources.

Although the production car will be a year away from going on sale, a near production-ready Megacity concept car will take pride of place at the Games. BMW will be the official automotive partner for the 2012 games.

BMW believes the Olympics represent a unique opportunity to educate a huge global audience about the benefits of electric cars, and hopes that having the Megacity figuring prominently will help establish it as a market leader for electric cars.

The Megacity is a four-seat, rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive car, which houses the batteries that power the 100Kw motor underneath the floor.

BMW says it will be bigger than a Mini, but smaller than a BMW 1 Series, and comparatively tall.

To counteract the relatively heavy weight of the car's batteries, the Megacity will have a lightweight carbonfibre cell. BMW has gone into partnership with an American company to set up a carbonfibre production plant in Washington state.

As its name suggests, the Megacity will be a car for urban dwellers. BMW expects the car to have a range of between 100 and 130 miles. It will also have a useable boot, and its flat floor could mean the car will have a flexible seating layout.

The Megacity will be marketed as a premium product under a sub-brand of BMW perhaps similar to the 'M' sub-brand it has for its sports models.