• Technology

Inside the i8, BMW’s First Hybrid Electric Car

Interested in a hybrid or an electric vehicle to help save gasoline, and possibly the planet, too?

Mashable’s Lance Ulanoff took a first look at the BMW i8 through Google Glass. With its strong curves and Lotus-style doors, BMW’s first hybrid, plug-in electric vehicle, the i8, makes a striking first impression. Unveiled at the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday, the two-seater features both an array of technology and eco-friendly accouterments that could make quite an impression when the car arrives later this year.

Combining a three-cylinder gas engine with an electric engine for a combined 362 horsepower, the car can reportedly travel 22 miles on electric power alone and 310 miles on the hybrid engine technology. The interior features LED lights, a passenger cell constructed of carbon fiber and, according to BMW, uses recycled material throughout the vehicle.