BMW’s Project i, won’t just spawn one city car but a whole range including two, three and four-wheeled vehicles. And, according to the company spokesman we spoke to, they will all be fun to drive as well as extremely eco friendly not some “milk-float inspired spod wagons!” - thanks God for that.

The vehicle proposal that sounds the most exciting to us is the three-wheeler. There has been plenty of speculation that this will be some retro-looking machine inspired by the Isetta from the 1950s.

Well it maybe. However, the BMW spokesman told us it may actually something a whole lot more futuristic.

He said: “There are a number of options under consideration and we are exploring different avenues. One of proposals is something like the Clever Concept. This would deliver the thrills of a motorcycle but, being a three wheeler, you wouldn’t have to wear a helmet to drive one.”

The Clever Concept (pictured) was developed by Bath University with the help of BMW. A three-wheeler just one meter wide, it is designed to zip through city traffic like a bicycle, tilt at corners like a motorcycle, and park in tiny spaces. It can carry a passenger, seated behind the driver, and can go up to 60 mph.

The Clever runs on compressed natural gas, but BMW is exploring other propulsion systems for its I car range. Electric power is the preferred option.

The BMW spokesman explained: “We are testing the viability of battery power with our MINI e. We need to see how people use them plus what kind of performance, range and life we can achieve. We need to make sure it is truly viable.”

However, BMW is also considering utilising its motorcycle engine know-how in the I car range and also hybrid power.

“We are committed to producing a super economical or zero emission vehicle or range of vehicles. However, it’s going to be at least five years until we have production models one the road.”

That is quite a long wait. We had been hoping these cars would be available sooner. It seems that BMW is taking its time to make sure it gets things right just like it did with the MINI. And if that experience is anything to go by then driving in the future may not be as boring as we had previously feared.