BMW i8

The 2015 BMW i8 isn't your average plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Its lithium-ion battery pack can recharge in as little as 1.5 hours, and the car can rocket from 0 to 60mph in 4.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 155mph. The interior uses recycled materials and naturally treated leather, and it's easily one of the sexiest-looking production cars available. While the i8's scissor-lift-style doors are cool, they also make it difficult to get in and out, and the tiny rear seats are more for storage than passengers. Still, for a car that looks this good and gets this fast, those are minor quibbles. The 2015 BMW i8 is a world-class hybrid sports car well worthy of our Editors' Choice.

Pricing and Design
The 2015 BMW i8$150,095.00 at TrueCar is offered in one trim level at a base price of $136,500. It comes with a turbocharged 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder, 228-horsepower gasoline engine paired with a 129-horespower electric motor, for a total of 357 horsepower. The gas engine drives the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission, while the electric motor powers the front wheels via a two-speed automatic. The car also has an onboard a 7.1kW lithium-ion battery pack.

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Standard features include 20-inch wheels, cross-drilled and ventilated disc brakes, adjustable suspension, LED exterior lighting with BMW i "U-shaped" daytime running and brake lights, automatic high beam headlights, auto engine start-stop, an around-view camera view system, keyless entry and ignition, power front seats with memory, leather upholstery, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Technology highlights include a navigation system with real-time traffic info, Bluetooth phone connectivity, BMW's iDrive interface, BMW Assist with remote smartphone app capability, BMW Online and Apps, and a Harman Kardon sound system with hard disk storage and USB and aux inputs.

Three option packages are available. The $10,800 Pure Impulse World option on our test car includes alloy turbine-style wheels, black brake calipers, active headlights, a heads-up display, front and rear parking sensors, an upgraded audio system, "enhanced" Bluetooth with audio streaming, heated seats, ambient lighting, and various interior trim and materials upgrades, including a leather engine cover. With a destination charge of $995 tacked on, our test car come with a final sticker price of $150,095.

The i8's styling is nothing less than stunning. The low-slung, long-wheelbase vehicle features short overhangs for an aggressive stance, while the taillight housings form part of an air channel to improve aerodynamics. The vehicle architecture is made up of a combination of lightweight aluminum and a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic "Life Module" passenger cabin. Once you slide in through the scissor-lift doors, the cabin layout is a surprisingly spacious fit for two adults in front, although the tiny back seats can really only accommodate small children.

Connectivity, Navigation, and Interface
The i8 also takes a hybrid approach to connectivity, like all BMWs. Certain features are available via the car's onboard SIM card, such as a Web browser and connected search, while apps for streaming music and other services are delivered through the BMW Apps platform and a connected smartphone. These features all fall under the ConnectedDrive platform, but services such as BMW Online (along with the BMW Assist telematics systsem) require a subscription after an initial trial period. Both work well, although the embedded 3G modem was, of course, slower than our connected 4G smartphone.

The i8's Navigation Professional system is not much different than the one used in most gasoline-powered BMWs. The system has detailed and sharply rendered maps with accurate real-time traffic coverage. But BMW lags behind German rivals Audi and Mercedes-Benz in that it doesn't provide Google Earth and StreetView modes, which we've found can come in handy.