BMW Unveils New Electric and Hybrid Concept Cars

BMW is showing off a pair of new hybrid and electric concept cars expected to reach dealer showrooms in the next few years.

The German automaker gave journalists in New York a sneak peak of its i3 city car and i8 sports car Wednesday. The cars will officially debut at the Los Angeles auto show next week.

Both feature carbon fiber construction, which reduces the weight of the vehicle and the size of its frame. It also allows BMW to construct much of the exteriors out of tinted glass instead of metal, giving them a see-through quality.

The i3 is an electric car that comes with the option of a small engine to boost its range, while the i8 is powered by both a battery and a three-cylinder gas engine.