Rumor Mill: BMW EVs, Honda Insight Details

Rumor Mill: BMW EVs, Honda Insight Details

The folks at the BMW Blog say they've seen Bimmer's '09 product plan and it contains a pair of new BMW electric-vehicle concepts.

BMW has been talking EV most of the year, and the blog report says the first of the new  concepts, to be introduced in March at the Geneva Auto Show, is an eDrive concept that uses the Mini E's battery-electric drive system installed in either a BMW 1- or 3-Series.

The second, if the rumor mill is grinding true, is a battery-electric version of the Z roadster, to be dubbed the Z Vision Concept and due at either the Frankfurt or Tokyo auto shows later in the year.

Sorry, no art of either.

Also due from BMW's green stable in 2009 are hybrid versions of the 7-Series sedan, shown as a concept at the Paris Auto Show, and the X6 sport wagon.

And on the Honda front, thanks to Insightman via Autoblog Green , comes word that the 2009 Insight hybrid to be unveiled next week at the Detroit auto show will come in three flavors - likely to be the DX, LX and EX trim lines that differentiate the price- and equipment-levels of other Honda models.

Insightman also suggests that there will be no spare, just a flat fix kit; that the top-of-the-line EX model will feature a 7-speed CVT with paddle shifters; that the only interiors offered will be blue or grey cloth and that side air bags will be option on all trim levels.

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.