Updated 01:12 AM EDT, Fri, Mar 29, 2024

2014 Orange County Auto Show: Best Eco-Friendly Vehicles at this Year's Show

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The Orange County International Auto Show will celebrate its 50th anniversary this weekend in Anaheim. The show features the latest and greatest from all of the top automakers and provides us with their vision for America's immediate automotive future. A big part of that future is alternative fuel source vehicles, and while there are plenty alternative fuel cars at the show this weekend, we selected the ones we felt were most noteworthy.

BMW i3

The i3 is BMW's all-electric compact utility vehicle, and it has one of the coolest interiors of any car at the show. Its power plant produces 170-hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. The i3 also utilizes a brake regeneration system to channel the kinetic energy generated while braking into its battery, for increased power efficiency. Sporty features such as dynamic stability control, high performance brakes, dynamic brake control and electric steering assistance promise to make the i3--given its tiny footprint--a lot of fun to drive. Sadly, BMW was is not test driving the i3 this weekend.

The i3's interior is incredibly roomy given it's small size, and has a very cool digital display in the middle of its dash to go along with wood paneling. The i3 is available in three editions: Mega World (standard), Giga World and Tera World. The starting price for the Mega World entry point is $46,150. 

BMW i8

The BMW i8 is one of the most unique looking cars you'll see anywhere. It looks like a classic sci-fi 'future car,' and has the actual tech on board that you might find in a futuristic movie (and if you'll recall, it was featured in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol). It has a hybrid electric/motor power plant that produces 357 hp and has a top speed of 155 mph. And it also has style, as demonstrated by its swan-swing doors (that open upwards, not outwards) and hyper-futuristic body. BMW plans to sell the i8 under its own 'i' brand that will be separate from both the BMW and Mini brands.

Toyota FCV

Toyota is one of a few automakers ready to make hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles a reality in the very near future. The FCV (or fuel-cell-vehicle) is its proof of concept, and will compete directly with Honda's FCX Clarity and Hyundai's Tuscon. It sort of resembles a larger Prius, though it still only seats four and has an estimated range of 435 miles on a single 'tank' of hydrogen. Refueling times will only take three minutes--that is if you can find a station. Hydrogen fuel cell stations are still pretty rare around the U.S., but with many of the major auto makers bringing FCVs to the market now, you bet that will change. 

The Toyota FCV will retail for around $69,000 when it goes on sale in the U.S. later next year. 

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