The third member of BMW’s i family is starting to be revealed.
The third member of BMW’s i family is starting to be revealed.
There have been many rumors about the model between the i3 & i8. Now, a new report gives some insight into what to expect. Henrik Wenders is the BMWi’s head for product, Car and Driver. Henrik explained that we will be dealing a hybrid car and not an electric one. Bavarian companies will also offer an internal-combustion engine with extended range.
Wenders said that the range-extension plays an important role in the future, when range is a constraining factor and a source for anxiety. It will eventually become obsolete once the range is comparable to that of an internal-combustion motor. The platform for the third i model is known as the i5. It is also called FSAR (flat battery storage assembly). As you can see, the EV will be made of carbon-fiber and likely look like a crossover. Another option is a sedan design.
To attract families, we are considering a new i3 model (the i3) and it must be capable to be the first car in the family. Wenders added that we are still working hard on the usage concept. However, this must be determined by the market and not us.
He is not ready to predict the maximum range of the car at this stage, but explained that BMW isn’t “going to join race about maximum range figures.”
“If you look at these figures and compare them with the amount of energy invested, you will often find that the total carbon footprint for those models is greater than for cars with internal-combustion engines. This doesn’t make sense.
Driver and say that the i5 will not be launched before the end of this decade.