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This site has been covering news of the Mini E for over a month, so it shouldn't surprise you that Mini's parent company, BMW, is expected to unveil some EV concepts in the very near future. According to BMW Blog, the German automaker will showcase "Concept eDrive" at the Geneva Auto Show in March 2009.

Details about Concept eDrive aren't certain, but bloggers in the know expect a 1 or 3-series model with the same electric powertrain used in the Mini E. Excited? There's more.

The BMW Z Vision Concept is expected to appear at either the Frankfurt or Tokyo Auto Show next year. Sources close to BMW describe the Concept this way:

"Think of something with smaller proportions, but more modern or current styling of the Z8. This means headlights positioned on the corner of each front wings with a wide twin-kidney grille similar to the CS Concept but not as wide. No windscreen but a speedster style screen and a twin “individual cabin layout where the aluminium metal skin actually joins on to the dashboard separating the driver from the passenger.

All this but in a compact (1er based) platform with a very significant insignia on the front wheel arch - “eDrive.”

No V8 ,No Insane overload of power and excess. Vision-Z is all about relevance and sustainability and the progress of sports cars for the future."

Now we're talking. Don't get too excited just yet though. In the latest issue of Motor Trend, BMW mentioned that mass production of plug-in EVs within the next five years is unlikely.

Sources: BMW Blog, Motor Trend