BMW i3 released

BMW unveiled the i3, the Bavarian carmaker's electric car, in New York, London and Beijing Monday.

The two-volume city electric with available gasoline-powered range extender seems to fit in the same category as Chevy's Volt and Nissan's Leaf. But the i3 comes with the advantage of not being the first car of its type on the market.

Where the bulky-looking city car does come in first is as an electric offering from the big-3 luxury carmakers (Audi, BMW, Mercedes) and in adapting some very high-tech technology to a car priced under $50,000. Prices start at $42,350 and $45,200 with the Range Extender.

The i3 is built around a carbon fiber tub, like the one fitted in Ferrari and McLaren supercars, that keeps curb weight at a paltry 2,700 lbs. -- the Volt weighs in at 3,781 lbs. Carbon fiber tubs are also designed to provide structural rigidity worthy of a racecar, but with a top speed of 93 mph it's fair to say this wasn't a priority in the car's design.

An also-featherweight electric motor provides the equivalent of 170 hp, which should provide some zip considering the car's weight. The optional Range Extender 650cc gasoline engine is only used to provide charge, not power the wheels, a la Volt. BMW claims an 80-100 mile real-world electric range.

The i3 keeps "BMW’s signature, near-perfect 50-50 weight distribution," propeller badge and kidney grilles, but otherwise there are few visual clues as to this car's origin. Coach style back doors mean that the car opens up like a Honda Element.

It is also the first car out of BMW's "i" line-up. It seems hard to believe that the carmaker that at one point stayed true to straight-sixes while its competitors tried out all forms of V- and W-engines would ever move -- let alone lead the way -- into electrics.

But BMW seems to be making a push to disassociate itself from specific powertrains and name badges -- the famed M3 badge is being retired after this model year -- and associate "The Ultimate Driving Machine" with revolutionary technology.

True to Bavarian form, i's next model is set to be the i8, a wild, sporty blow-you-out-of-the-water supercar to contrast with the wholly reasonable i3.