Rumors in the past of an additional BMW i model to slot in between the i3 and i8 have been floating about for quite some time and to keep them fresh, AutoCar reports BMW’s new i5 could either take form as an elongated i3 or possibly a new sedan.
According to the report, BMW’s new i5 model is in the “final stages” of development, though nobody has any clue as to what the model will actually take form as. Spy photos have been virtually nonexistent, emphasizing the point of secrecy where BMW’s really taking this project seriously. Given the pressure applied by competition from the likes of Tesla, we can’t blame them, especially if they want to get a head start over their more traditional competition from Japan and Germany.
Nonetheless, BMW’s board member for sales and marketing, Ian Robertson, told AutoCar, the new i5 should end up either as a stretched i3 as a mini-MPV model, which has been the original rumor for the i5–or alternatively, it could take form as a sedan to directly compete with Tesla’s hotly anticipated Model 3 entry-level luxury sport EV sedan–yea, the one being designed to be a BMW 3-Series competitor.
Robertson said BMW will have a more concrete decision as to what specific bodystyle the i5 will utilize sometime next year, just in time to launch the car in lieu of BMW’s major centenary celebration. Even then, he also said BMW is unsure as to what powertrain arrangement to choose, either a plug-in hybrid or an all-electric system. So the i5 is still a ways away.
On a slightly different note, BMW recently stirred up some news regarding a potential new hydrogen-powered car due for sale sometime after 2020 with a propulsion system modeled after the one found in the Toyota Mirai. Toyota and BMW are collaborating, just in case you forgot. That said, the goal is to have the sedan travel up to 435 miles on a single tank of compressed hydrogen.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: AutoCar
Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/1IjBTpp
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