The BMW i3 Concept Will Make Your Commute Green <i>and</i> Stylish

These days, buying a small car is a daunting task. With gas prices constantly in flux, cities becoming more cramped and a market inundated with bland options, it's easy to think that you have to sacrifice style and passion to meet your practical needs. The BMW i3 Concept will change all that — finally mixing stellar design with green commuting appeal to create an electric daily driver designed to give you the best of both worlds.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the i3 Concept (as well as the i8 Concept) at BMW's Born Electric World Tour here in New York City, and brought along photographer Andrew Link, who shoots regularly for publications such as Rides magazine, to take the gorgeous photos you see in the gallery above.

Part of the BMW i-series, the i3 Concept features a beautiful design that's the perfect combination of organic, sculptural forms with high-tech details. The clever simplicity of its exterior design allows some striking details to pop out — the iconic BMW kidney grille is set in a pop of blue found throughout the i-series, a nod to its all-electric technology and forward-looking design; the floating rear tail lights are set in a large area of glass, both functional and uniquely attractive; extensive glass surfaces across the body give the car a light, agile feeling.

The interior of the concept car shares that same lightness, feeling tremendously spacious for a vehicle of this size. There's plenty of room for passengers — as well as anything you'd want to carry — without feeling cramped. And because of the LifeDrive architecture, there's no center tunnel bisecting the cabin — providing options for space utilization beyond anything else on the market.

It's not just the spacious layout that's so special with the i3 Concept. BMW has taken use of sustainable materials throughout the interior to an entirely new level. The wood is an open-pore eucalyptus veneer. The leather is vegetable-tanned using an extract made from olive leaves gathered at harvest time. It not only feels luxurious, it feels fresh.

With the i3 Concept, BMW has taken the compact electric vehicle to the next level, offering a surprising amount of space and utility in a very attractive package. Going green no longer means sacrificing style.

Head here to get a peek into the future.