2015 BMW i3

BMW is now really in the electric car business. The purpose-built i3EV made its production debut at an auto show at Frankfurt 2013. Two variants: a pure electric and a range extender electric with a gas engine generator. I believe it's the first car to offer that choice in one model. The EV will get a typical 80-ish miles on a chart. The range extender, about 180. The styling is hardly recognizable as a BMW and from no angle would you call it attractive. Four doors, the rear of which are stubby little suicide doors. Inside, the interface consists of two radically different LCD screens, nothing at all like a typical car dash; though a familiar iDrive controller runs the one in the middle. At 42 grand for the EV and almost 46 for the range extender, BMW clearly intends the i3 to succeed on its BMW driving dynamics and brand prestige, not on sheer value per miles.