The BMW i3 electric hatchback has been caught testing again by our tireless spy photographers. The near-production car seen here gives us the clearest indication yet of what the finished product will end up looking like, though it is still covered in camouflage. BMW's 'i' brand runs under the German company's theme of "Born Electric" and uses the company's 'Live and Drive' architecture. The 'Drive' component consists of a 168hp rear-mounted electric motor good for 0-40mph in 4 seconds and a 0-62mph sprint of 8 seconds.

With 6 hours of charging time required for a range of 140 miles, the functional hatchback will compete well with its competition. From the latest batch of spy shots, taken during cold-weather testing in Northern Sweden, we can clearly see the near-production model's design styling cues even though it is still fully-camouflaged. We can see the LED taillights on the rear, the smooth tailgate design, aerodynamic side skirts and thin front wheels and tires which help reduce drag. The designs compliment nicely its carbon fiber-reinforced plastic body and aluminum chassis allowing for its solid range.

The BMW i3 also carries a relatively light weight of 2,755lbs. The i3 will launch next year in 2013. BMW expects to sell around 30,000 units of their electric hatchback.