As production edges ever closer for BMW's i3 and i8 electric vehicles, examples of each are touring the globe and letting fans get a closer look.
The BMW i 'Born Electric' Tour kicked off in Rome back in June, and is set to make a stop in New York City from November 13-18.
The tour lets members of the public explore BMW's vision of the future of mobility, and the NYC stop will mark the local debut of both the BMW i8 Concept Spyder and the latest BMW i3 Concept.
The former is a plug-in hybrid-electric sports car, promising 78 mpg economy but 0-60 mph acceleration in under five seconds. A turbocharged, three-cylinder gasoline engine supplies the back wheels, while electric motors provide traction at the front.
In contrast, the BMW i3 is a dedicated electric city car. Caught in recent spy shots and shown as a concept vehicle on several occasions, the i3 should feature a range of between 80-100 miles, and a 0-60 mph dash of around 8 seconds.
BMW is also hoping to sell the car for around $35,000 when it reaches the U.S. next year--not far off the less stylish Nissan Leaf.
It hopes to sell around 40,000 units a year globally, and is also considering a range-extended version, likely to use a small gasoline engine to provide some extra juice when the batteries run down.
The BMW i tour will stop in New York City, at 1095 Avenue of the Americas, between 41st and 42nd streets.
As well as the cars, there will be discussions on the mobility problems facing America's largest cities, and other transportation issues likely to arise in the years to come. Other cities set to host the tour include London, Paris and Shanghai.
The show opens its doors on November 13 at 6:00pm.
