Films and cars. How many images come to mind? Maybe the time machine from the Back to the Future trilogy? Maybe Herbie? Even if the name DeLorean DMC-12 doesn’t mean anything to you, you would recognize it on the streets as the time machine. And if you ever see a white 1963 Volkswagen Beetle with the number 53 painted on it, you might know it is Herbie.

How about the vehicle in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol? That car hit the market this year!

In 2011 the BMW i8 created buzz after it appeared in the film Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. Now that the car finally hit the market, it has been a success. During the Los Angeles Auto Show, Julián Argüelles with BMW Product and Technology Communications, shared with Entertainment Affair the impact product placement had on this vehicle, “the i8 has been so popular that we have wait lists in the U.S. and every other market.” The production of the i8 is currently demand driven and customers have to wait a few months for their car to be manufactured.

The i8 and its partner in the BMW i Series, the i3, are a new generation of The Ultimate Driving Machine fully focused on sustainability. The i3 was awarded on November 20 the 2015 Green Car of the Year Award at the Los Angeles Auto Show. These vehicles are produced in factories powered by wind or solar energy. The aluminum chassis is made of 80% recycled material, such as soda cans, and any plastic found in the car comes from recycled PET bottles. The leather tanning process is completely natural and instead of using chemicals they use an extract made of olive tree leaves. Even the carbon fiber used in the car is treated at a renewable energy facility.

The i Series is here to please two different types of drivers: the sports car enthusiast and the eco-conscious mega city or suburban resident. For both vehicles BMW has designed mobility apps that Argüelles said, “take the stress out of electro mobility” since the 360 Electric apps allow the users to locate public charging stations, reserve a space at those stations, and even plan the full trip.

When asked about comparisons that have been made of the i8 to the Tesla Argüelles responded, “we don’t see the Tesla as a direct competitor because that is a sedan, a family car, and the i8 is a sports car, the world’s most progressive sports car.”

California has been the biggest market for these vehicles, but Argüelles excitedly shared that there is a growing interest for environmental sustainability in Latin American cities and Spain. Cities such as Santiago de Chile, Bogotá in Colombia, and Mexico City would benefit from electro mobility and the i Series has been well received, he added.

Although currently there are no plans to bring other models into the i Series, BMW recognizes there is no one single solution for all customers. Argüelles shared that for some customers a diesel engine might be a better choice because of their long commutes; BMW offers diesel engines on the 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, and also on the X5 and the X3. BMW also offers the ActiveHybrid vehicles lowering gas consumption and CO2 emission, “we offer different choices for different customers,” said the BMW representative. For some customers the gasoline engine might still be the best choice and for that reason BMW continues making their engines more efficient.

At the 2014 Los Angeles Auto show, BMW is displaying the i Series with the tagline The Future is Here. After seeing these cars displayed you will be convinced that the future truly is here. Don’t miss the opportunity to see them at the Los Angeles Convention Center from November 21 through November 30.

If you have the chance to attend the event, you will also see the debut of the BMW X5M and the X6M.