COVER BMW takes on Tesla
i Vision Dynamics concept revealed at Frankfurt Motor Show Production car in 2020; 373-mile range, 0-62mph in four seconds
Electric concept points to Model S rival with 373-mile range
BMW has given us a thinly veiled glimpse of the four-door, all-electric saloon it will launch by the end of the decade, as predicted by Auto Express in February. Called the i Vision Dynamics concept, it was revealed last week at the Frankfurt Motor Show and will sit between the i3 hatchback and i8 sports car as a rival to the Tesla Model S.
It’s one of 12 all-electric cars BMW is planning to release by 2025, which will include a fully electric X3 SUV and MINI hatchback. According to the German brand, the concept boasts an all-electric range of 600km (373 miles), a top speed over 120mph and a 0-62mph time of four seconds. BMW bosses have told Auto Express that those are the figures the production model will also be capable of when it arrives in showrooms.
“We have more electrified vehicles on the road than any established competitor and are committed to expanding our activities in the field of electric mobility,” said Harald Krüger, chairman of BMW. “By 2025 we will be offering 25 models with an electrified drive system – of which 12 will be pure-electric.”
Styling
The i Vision Dynamics cuts a slightly different character compared to BMW’S current i offerings. Some styling cues are taken from the INEXT concept car revealed last year, such as the large, vertical kidney grille outlines, LED strip headlights and horizontal, flared tail-lights. The concept also features a full-length panoramic windscreen.
Robert Irlinger, boss of BMW’S i Division, told Auto Express: “It’s a concept car, but we have a good tradition at BMW i that the concept car and the later production car look the same. There will be some changes, but this car is not far away.”
The concept measures in at 4,804mm long, 1,933mm wide and 1,387mm tall. That puts it between a 4 Series Gran Coupé and 5 Series in terms of size; it’s noticeably more compact than a Tesla Model S.
Asked when the i Vision Dynamics concept will morph into a production model, Irlinger continued: “As soon as we have all our modular systems working, so something around 2020. We are working on a very competitive and innovative project; we are trying to find the right design for the car. It will sit between the i3 and the i8 – we [i Division] are at the core of the brand. With our new modular systems, the next level of our electric powertrains, we are able to bring an electrified powertrain to all of our vehicles. This car is not just for the i brand, it is for the whole BMW group.”
Bosses refused to be drawn on what the production model will be called when it arrives, but i4 or i5 would reflect the model’s size and positioning in the range.
Irlinger told us that the production model will use lithium-ion batteries, although the brand has been conducting research into the development of solid state batteries – considered to be the next big leap in battery development – for the past three years.
Unlike the i3 and i8, it’s also understood that the i Vision Dynamics will be based around the next generation of the CLAR platform (the underpinnings of the current 5 Series) rather than a carbon fibre tub.
Shortly after the arrival of the i Vision Dynamics, BMW will launch its most advanced car to date. Dubbed INEXT, it will debut with Level 3 autonomy and be capable of Level 4 and 5 driving. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express STYLING Large, vertical grille and LED strip headlights were first seen on the INEXT concept car shown last year
last year, BMW’S member of the board responsible for sales and marketing, Ian Robertson, said: “Having recently had the final design review, you can assume that it’s a bigger car rather than a smaller one.
“One thing we’ll see is that – as with most BMWS – you’ll know it’s one of our cars without seeing the badge. Proportionally it has certain design icons – the grille, light treatment and so on.”