It’s been long rumored that the next electric vehicle from BMW would be the BMW i5 – a 4 door sedan that would slot inbetween the i3 and the i8 (both in size and in price).
However, new reports from BMW show they are making an electric Mini, as well as an electric version of their X3 crossover. There is no mention of an ‘i’ vehicle of any sort coming out in the near future which is what was previously discussed.
Green Car Reports has some ideas as to why that might be, and we think it makes sense:
- Because of the cost and complexity of the carbon fiber body in the i3, it may be cheaper and easier to manufacturer a mass-produced electric vehicle built with a more standard type of structure
- As battery costs come down, electric versions with enough range in a ‘normal’ vehicle is easy enough to achieve that the added cost and complexity of the ‘i’ models is not necessary anymore
- BMW may want to make a vehicle that blends in more with the rest of their lineup
BMW has said they have plans for a flagship sedan codenamed iNext, but there are little details surrounding it other than it will have autonomous driving abilities.
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