BMW I8 | Starting Price: About $140,000

The BMW i8 concept was firstintroduced back in 2009 at the International Motor Show Germany. It has been turning heads ever since. Curious onlookers and automotive enthusiasts alike have clamored to catch a glimpse of the hybrid supercar. Production models finally started rolling off the line last year, with much aplomb.

To borrow an old slogan, this is not your grandfather’s hybrid.

Beginning with its supercar styling, the i8 is an attention grabber, to say the least. Built with carbon-fiber body parts, the design evokes a sense of speed and power. Carbon, which is as strong as steel, but 50 percent lighter, offers a strong, but light-weight material to maximize fuel efficiency. The i8’s shark-nose grill and low-slung stance suggest there is a V-12 engine lurking beneath the hood … but there isn’t!

What is there however might actually be better than your standard old gas-guzzling V-12. Instead, a fuel-sipping, dual power train controls the i8 and delivers exactly what you need, when you need it. In fact, the i8’s hybrid may just be perfect for today’s urban life.

When you’re sitting in traffic going nowhere fast, you can easily keep the car in EV mode. Under this setting, the i8 operates fully on electric power, tugging along at speeds up to 75 mph and yielding 129 horsepower. It’s deceptively quiet, making a typical commute a peaceful experience. You’re certainly not going to win any races in EV mode, but it does prove to be exceptional in heavy traffic.

On the weekends, head outside the city and into the country to open up the i8’s supercar personality. Switch from EV mode to Sport mode and watch this car come to life with 357 horsepower. Even the gauges change color from blue to red, indicating that you’re about to have a completely different experience. The 1.5-liter three-cylinder aided by an 11-horsepower electric motor kicks on, yielding power that is nothing short of magic. Like all true hybrids, in this setting, it recharges itself. However, feel free to plug it in at night, back home in the garage.

Back to its magical performance dynamics, prepare to hit 60 mph in about 4.6 seconds. Make that 3.6 if you can handle a launch-control start. Steering is laser-like, even beyond what you’re accustomed to from a BMW. The engine, two motors, and two transmissions work together seamlessly, without any kind of lag or indication that this is a hybrid vehicle.

When operating in Sport mode, fuel economy hovers just under 30 mpg. Balance that out with EV mode, which doesn’t even require fuel at all, and you’ve got yourself plenty to brag about.

With a price tag that starts at near $140,000, the BMW i8 offers an incredible blend of performance, technology, fuel economy, and style. Its dual personality is perfect for city dwellers who want something more out of their daily drive.

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2015 CHRYSLER 200 | Starting Price: About $21,000

You might have never guessed, or even cared for that matter, that the new Chrysler 200 is a reworking of the old Sebring. With Fiat infusing Italian style into Chryslers, the American manufacturer is experiencing its own renaissance.

The mid-size sedan category is probably the toughest of all automotive segments. You’ve got the Mazda 6, Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord, not to mention stiff competition from the Korean makers. Toss in a well-appointed Ford Fusion, and you’re even competing against the home team.

And so enter the 200, the mid-size sedan coming from Chrysler’s rebirth. It certainly isn’t lacking in looks or style. Curved, sweeping lines hint at a taste of European flavor. Elongated LED headlamps are distinctive while the rear styling echoes more of the Euro flair for good looks. Overall, its design aesthetic feels more like a luxury car rather than the bread-and-butter 4-door family car it actually is.

Elegance continues inside, with a dash that is clean and simple but stately, broken up by chrome trim, housing
similar gauges and instruments together. The controls are within easy grasp of the driver and everything is intuitive and user-friendly. The rotary gear selector is definitely unique. And lest you forget from whence this car hails, the floor mat of the center pass-through is embossed with the Detroit skyline.

The 200 is loaded with technology, including the optional UConnect 5.0 system, featuring a high-resolution touch screen, voice command, bluetooth, SiriusXM Satellite radio, and integration for your personal devices. Located between the speedometer and tach is a customizable information display which gives the driver a plethora of system information.

And for those warm Houston days, you can remotely start the car from 200 feet away and activate the climate control and optional ventilated seats.

Chrysler expects to mostly sell the 4-cylinder version of the 200, though a V6 engine is also available. The 2.4-liter Tigershark engine produces 184 horsepower and is mated to a 9-speed transmission. While that may seem like a lot of gears, it finds the proper ratios quickly, efficiently and most important, seamlessly. This power train combines for an impressive fuel economy of 36 mpg on the highway. Bump that to 295 horsepower and 32 mpg for the V6.

As a daily driver, the 200’s ride is comfortable. It’s a happy car for running errands throughout the city and getting family members from place to place. Its sloping rear roofline takes away some rear interior headroom, but nothing too significant. It feels good to drive and vibrations from the road are minimal. Acceleration is not the fastest, but the 200 holds its own merging onto the freeway and zipping through traffic. A MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension offer a well-balanced ride. It’s haute couture for a bon marché price.

Pricing for the Chrysler 200 starts just over $21,000 and ranges up near $30,000.

For information on these and other vehicles, visit mycardata.com.