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If You Were a BMW i3, You Could Be Described in Two Words. “Efficient” and “Fast.”

Zero to 60TV takes you on a new kind of thrill ride, the BMW i3.

Guess what? Green still means go.

The BMW i3 uses 70% less water and saves 50% more energy than its first gen predecessor.

The second-generation BMW i3 EV reduces your carbon footprint without sacrificing performance. An electric vehicle built to perform smarter, it’s still one of BMW’s fastest models off the line, with 184-lb-ft torque which makes for a fun, fast start. As lightweight as it is fast, the i3 is made of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic, which is 50% lighter than steel but just as strong. It’s constructed like a racecar…but quieter, because it’s electric.

Steve wants to know: If there’s no engine, what’s under the hood? Watch our video to find out.

The compact, futuristic-looking i3 comes with standard 20” wheels, a roomy hatch, “perfect for golf clubs,” says Steve Ulin of Zero To 60TV, and split rear doors. Worried about range with an electric vehicle? With the BMW i3, you don’t have to be. You can travel 114 miles on a full charge, but the model we drove has the BMW Range Extender, which allows your mileage to be extended up to 180 miles. The two cylinder gas-powered engine will charge your battery when you get down to 6% to give you time to get to a charging station. The BMW i3’s futuristic design even allows the accelerator pedal to convert kinetic energy into electricity to increase efficiency. This is future-tech you can drive now.

Choose to charge your i3 at normal rate or in 30-40 minutes with the DC Combo Fast Charger.

Just because it’s an electric vehicle doesn’t mean you’re going to sacrifice luxury, comfort, and state-of-the-art technology. The i3’s ConnectedDrive Services will update you via the dash or on your smartphone or smartwatch so you’ll always know your battery’s charge, the nearest location of any of the 28,000 charging stations nationwide, and more.

The BMW i3’s ultra-modern dash keeps you updated via your smartphone or even smartwatch.

“I love the design of it, it’s got that European feel,” said David Whitman when asked about the i3’s interior. “They haven’t left any surface untouched. They’ve thought of everything.”

The i3 interior, as roomy as the BMW 3 Series, is made of 25% renewable and recycled materials.

Steve Ulin was impressed with the i3’s performance. “Remember those slot cars?” he asks. “You push the button and it’s instantaneous performance? That’s this car.” Zero to 60TV host Mark Arsen concurs. “The future is here, now.”

See the BMW i3 in our LeithCars.com Zero To 60 video and in person at Leith BMW on Capital Boulevard in Raleigh, N.C.

We predict you’ll come away thinking the BMW i3 is a marvel.