BMW has announced it will reveal the long-awaited BMW i3 on July 29.

The end-of-month reveal announcement was accompanied by a teaser image of the German manufacturer's first electric production car being selectively lit against a black backdrop.

While the teaser gives little away, with the exception of the car's silhouette and new side mirrors, it follows previous testing images and recently published patent sketches of the BMW i3 production car that show the transparent doors and rear panel have been substituted by more conventional opaque bodywork. Similarly the headlights, tail-lights, bumpers and mirrors have been more realistically redesigned from the original i3 concept first seen at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.

The July debut means public eyes will be laid on the car well before the previously expected world premiere at this year's Frankfurt motor show in September.

To be offered in both pure-electric and plug-in hybrid guises - with a range of around 160km and 400km respectively - the almost four-metre-long i3 is due to go on sale in Europe before the end of the year with its local arrival planned for 2014.

The BMW i3 is to be joined next year by the i8 hybrid sports car.

Car Advice