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Most of us wouldn’t be caught dead in a Prius or suffer the anonymity of a hybridized family sedan. But the truth is, a soulless driving appliance is not the only ticket to the eco-friendly drivers‘ club. There are premium electric and hybrid-electric options that will raise your pulse as they lower your carbon footprint. Here’s a look at some of the most sought-after among them.
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E-Rocket
Elon Musk’s fully electric Tesla Model S has been a hit with the likes of Consumer Reports and Car and Driver, thanks to its combination of range (minimum 240 miles on a full charge), style, and performance. But when Tesla released the more powerful P85D version last year, it poked at the soft spot of automotive enthusiasts everywhere: 0-60 time. Two electric motors generate a combined 691 horsepower, sending the P85D rocketing to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. That’s faster than most supercars.
From: $105,670, Tesla at The Westchester, White Plains
(914) 285-1000; www.teslamotors.com
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A Duo From BMW
BMW introduced the plug-in hybrid-electric i8 as something of a technological halo car for the 21st century, armed with a futuristic drivetrain and construction that may one day trickle down to more accessible models: an aluminum-and-carbon-fiber chassis for reduced weight; two 7.1 kWh lithium-ion batteries strung through the center tunnel; a turbocharged, fuel-sipping three-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower for the rear wheels and a 129-horsepower electric motor that drives the front; and a plug, so you can charge your supercar while you sleep. A full battery will take you 23 miles on electric power before the gas engine kicks in.
From: $140,700, Ray Catena BMW of Westchester, White Plains
(914) 761-5555; www.westchesterbmw.com
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BMW’s i3 is the i8’s fully electric, less expensive, more practical cousin. The i3 carries four passengers in relative comfort, and a three-and-a-half-hour charge with a 220-volt outlet buys you 81 miles of travel, according to the EPA. An optional range extender—an onboard gas motor that will charge the batteries during driving—affords you an anxiety-reducing 150-mile range.
From: $42,400, Ray Catena BMW of Westchester, White Plains,
(914) 761-5555; www.westchesterbmw.com
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Guilt-Free Luxury
When Porsche introduced the Panamera in 2012, diehard fans howled cries of indignation at a four-door luxury liner joining the ranks of the sacred 911 and Boxster. Little did they know variants like the Panamera S E-Hybrid were on the horizon—an even further departure, packing a 333-HP V-6 paired with a 95-HP electric motor, putting out a combined 435 lb-ft of torque. With a full charge (you can plug your Porsche in overnight), it’s good for 15 miles of electric-only cruising.
From: $93,200, Porsche of Larchmont, Larchmont
(914) 391-1000; www.pepeautogroup.com
