BMW i8

The rear wheels are propelled by a 228 hp, 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine and the front wheels are driven by a 129-hp electric motor. With separate front (two speed) and rear (six speed) transmissions, this car is actually a pseudo all-wheel-drive car, but without a driveshaft between the axles. A 7.1-kWh battery supplies the electric drive and can charge in about three hours using a 120-volt outlet. Electric-only range is said to be 15 miles, but when the drive battery is drained, the car can sail merrily along as a traditional hybrid for a further 300 miles at least. The EPA rates the i8 with 76 mpg equivalent on electric power and 28 mpg on gas power.

The i8 has three drive modes. At start-up the default mode is 'Comfort,' and if you go easy on the pedal you can traverse stealthily up to about 50 mph on electric power alone. Tromp on the pedal and the rear engine roars to life, with a satisfying snarl no one would take for a three-cylinder. If there's enough charge in the battery, you can choose 'eDrive' mode, which maximizes driving on electricity. Flick the shifter to 'Sport' mode and the engine fires up, gauges switch from blue to red, and you now have access to both powertrains. Paddles by the steering wheel invite you to manually shift (sort of), including rev-matching when downshifting. This is certainly a treat, even if the sound is synthesized and piped through speakers. Here, the i8 does a trick other plug-in hybrids can't: While driving in Sport mode, the gas engine recharges the lithium-ion drive battery and you gain electric miles for later use.