2014 BMW i3

BMW’s sub-brand for its burgeoning electric car business is simply known as i.  And its premier product is named the i3 – a purpose built electric car with the footprint of the BMW 1 Series but with the interior space of the 3 Series.  Because it was designed from the ground up to be powered by an all-electric drive system and not a conversion from an internal combustion engine, engineers were not forced to compromise their imaginations nor waste any vital space.  Weighing only about 2,700 pounds due in part to the use of a carbon fiber reinforced plastic and aluminum, and thus requiring a smaller, lighter rear-mounted lithium-ion battery, the i3 promises to fulfill the mantra of being the Ultimate Driving Machine.  Unwilling to lower expectations, the i3’s tidy weight and low center of gravity combined with the 170 horsepower, 184 pound feet of torque electric motor aims to deliver excellent off the line feel with a 0-to-60mph time of just over 7-seconds and a real-world EV range of 80-100 miles.  Home charging can take as little as 3 hours.  And for those who want to rid themselves of nearly all range anxiety, the i3 is offered in a Range Extender model with a 2-cylinder gas-powered generator which roughly doubles driving distance.  Available in Mega, Giga and Tera trim levels, the 4-seater i3 is priced from about $42,000 before any available tax incentives.