Munich (Germany) — Meet one of BMW’s most highly-anticipated models. Announced in 2010, the i3 is the brand’s first full-production electric vehicle (EV), and also the spearhead of the new “green urban” sub-brand, BMW i.

The latter is something that BMW is betting heavily on to increase its relevance in the 21st century and the i3, as a compact urban EV, will be the cornerstone of that strategy.

Life on the bleeding edge

It shows in how BMW’s thrown a huge amount of effort and technology into making the car. Like the i8, it features the new LifeDrive architecture which uses a full carbon fibre passenger cell bonded to an aluminium rolling chassis.

Carbon fibre platforms aren’t new, but have so far been limited to small-run supercars like the McLaren MP4-12C. The i3 is the first mass-production car to feature extensive carbon fibre construction, thanks to new cost/time advantages in material processes pioneered by BMW itself. As a result, the i3 is slightly larger than a BMW 1 Series but nearly 150kg lighter.

TODAY is the first in the region to drive the i3, which was tested in its final prototype specification. It came with partial camouflage and an obscured interior, but certainly looks like nothing else on the road, and a distinctively futuristic take on urban transport.

Mould-breaking it may be, but it still handles like a BMW should. The little hatchback proves supremely competent when pushed in corners, there’s huge amounts of front end grip and superb steering, leading to a great sense of overall control and capability.

The electric motor produces about 170bhp and 250Nm of instant torque, which in conjunction with the lack of mass means the car’s impressively responsive, fast and tractable. With a 0-60kmh time of only 3.7 seconds, it’s perfect for dicing in the city.

Who’s in charge here?

There are some EV quirks that require some acclimatisation, like the instant go of the electric motor or the energy recuperation system slowing things down whenever you’re off the “gas”.

It’s easy to get used to, though, and that goes for general ergonomics as well. The i3 has lots of interior room, since all the drive components are flat-packed into the floor and boot.

Of course the elephant in the room for any EV is range. Our route was a short loop, so we didn’t get to test this fully, but BMW says that the i3 is capable of 130–160km on a full charge.

Importantly, the i3 lays range anxiety to rest with a 650cc twin-cylinder range-extender engine, allowing an extra 150km or so of travel.

Unlike range extender-equipped EVs such as the Chevrolet Volt, BMW’s range-extender does not recharge the car’s batteries.

Ultimately, you’ll still need to return to a wall wart somewhere and recharge, which takes six hours on regular mains voltage. It is for this reason that BMW is being very careful with the new brand’s strategy for Singapore. But if you do have access to a wall wart, the i3 represents the high-tech and desirable way to embrace green motoring — something few other EVs, or even green vehicles, can boast.

BMW i3

Motor: 170bhp, 250Nm electric motor

Engine: 650cc, parallel-twin, 32bhp

Performance: 150kmh, 0-100km/h 7.2s

Battery/Range: 22kWh/130-160km, 300km with extender

Price: TBA (2H 2014)

+ : Great fun to drive, perfect for the city, looks cool, roomy

- : You’ll need access to a charging spot

Also Consider: Smart Electric Drive, Renault Fluence Z.E. (only under TIDES scheme)