BMW to show X3 hybrid, Z4 coupe

THIS isn’t an official release – and the photograph is a standard BMW X3. But the word around world auto circles is that the German manufacturer is poised to use Frankfurt as the venue, and X3 as the vehicle, to demonstrate how close it is to producing petrol-electric hybrid cars.

Rather than use conventional battery technology, BMW’s hybrid system reportedly uses super-capacitors – or "Syncaps" – which can store and release large amounts of power for short bursts.

As shown in the X5 "Efficient Dynamics" concept car last year, the so-called Syncaps take up less room than regular batteries and also take less time to be recharged.

BMW is also expected to reveal its M-powered Z4 coupe, which will go head-to-head with Porsche’s new Boxster-based Cayman S coupe.

Expect styling cues reminiscent of the Xcoupe concept shown in Detroit in 2001 – and two versions, a 3.0-litre inline-six and a high-performance M version complete with a 3.2-litre six transplanted from the M3.