BMW unveils i3 electric car
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BMW has big news for drivers in megacities.
The automaker is showing off the production model of its new i3 electric compact that uses carbon-fiber materials to keep the weight down and improve driving performance.
CEO Norbert Reithofer stressed at a New York unveiling that the car was designed as an electric from the ground up. The i3 is "born electric," he said.
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The company says the i3, built in Leipzig, Germany, will go from zero to 62 mph in 7.2 seconds. Its range is billed as 80-100 miles per charge. Models fitted with an optional two-cylinder range extending gas engine and 2.4-liter fuel tank can go up to 180 miles.
Standard models feature a lithium-ion battery pack powering a rear-mounted electric motor and seating for four, the back seats made more accessible through the use of rear-opening coach doors.
BMW promises that a near 50/50 weight distribution will help deliver dynamic performance worthy of the company's Ultimate Driving Machine slogan.
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The i3 goes on sale in November in the U.S. next year for $42,275.
The Associated Press contributed to this report