BMW's i8 Plug-In Hybrid Supercar Arrives in June

BMW will begin delivering its 2014 i8 plug-in hybrid super car to the first customers in June in Europe following the start of production in April, the automaker announced.

Demand for the vehicle, which pairs a three-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery, has already exceeded plannned production volume, BMW announced.

BMW has improved performance and fuel-economy from the concept version of the vehicle. The i8 now needs 4.4 seconds to reach 0-62 mph (0-100 kilometers per hour). In testing, the vehicle returned about 112 miles per gallon (134.5 mpg Imperial). In everyday driving with a fully-charged battery, the i8's fuel economy should come in around 46.6 mpg (56 mpg Imperial), according to BMW.

When operating in zero-emmission fully electric mode, the BMW i8 has a top speed of 75 mph and a range of 23 miles. Charging time ranges from two to three hours.