BMW announced the U.S. markets for the ActiveE 1-Series, which are: Boston; New York; select cities in Connecticut; and Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif.

The approach with the EV will be similar to what BMW did with the MINI E; that is, lease to a limited number of customers in select markets in order to gauge performance, durability and real-world feasibility. No pricing for the upcoming lease programs has been announced.

The ActiveE boasts a fully electric drivetrain; BMW says it has a range of 100 miles. However -- and unusual for a manufacturer with a performance pedigree like that of BMW -- the ActiveE will top out at a mere 90 mph.