BMW electric hatchback to join full range of i cars

A new car under the BMW i sub-brand has been revealed in patent images, and takes the form of a large hatchback.

BMW’s unmistakable styling of its i sub-brand features on the car, which takes the form of a four-door hatchback. Like the i3, the car uses rear ‘suicide’ doors which are hinged at the back, although are fully-functioning doors, unlike the secondary rear doors on the BMW i3 which can only open when the front doors are open.

The patent images were first picked up by a Canadian car news website, after being filed for patent in Japan.

It’s expected, given the recent news of BMW’s broadening planned electric vehicle lineup, that the car will be a pure electric vehicle, rather than a range-extended EV like the BMW i3, or a petrol-electric hybrid, like the i8.

The images aren't alone in their patenting though; although no further patent images have surfaced, BMW has in recent months trademarked a full range of i car badges, with i-cars from i1 to i9 being trademarked.