The BMW iNext, an electric SUV with advanced autonomous systems, will be unwrapped later today (11 November) as the next step in the brand's transition to a maker of electric vehicles.
The wraps have come off: See the all-new iX here
Making its first production-spec appearance as part of a wider event looking "ahead to the future of mobility", the iNext sits on a radical new platform and will provide the “building blocks” for the BMW Group’s future.
Official images previously showed the production car testing in prototype form in Sweden ahead of an expected sales launch in 2021. While the iNext is a similar size to the X5, BMW has said that it represents ‘Project i 2.0’, sitting outside of its planned range of electric 'i' SUVs as a new ‘technology flagship’ for the brand.
The test car was running at BMW’s winter testing facility in Arjeplog, Sweden, and features a number of notable differences from the concept first shown in 2018. The backwards-opening rear doors have been replaced by a conventional pair and larger B-pillars have been added. While disguised, the grille on the test car is a more standard item than the concept's bold translucent panel that is used to house many of the autonomous systems.
The iNext will be built at BMW's Dingolfing plant in Germany from 2021. It will be the first car from the firm to use a new platform that will be able to spawn conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, plug-in hybrids and electric cars using the same basic architecture and on the same production line. This will underpin future BMW models from the 3 Series upwards and allow a rear-engine configuration in some.
BMW will build all of its future models on one of two platforms – one for front-wheel drive cars and one for those with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
On the latter platform, electric cars will have a rear-mounted drivetrain as standard. Plug-in hybrids will have a rear-mounted electric motor and a transversely-mounted engine driving the front wheels. Electric models will retain the classic BMW rear-wheel-drive layout.
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Filling Space
Not sure what was newsworthy about this. You are telling us that in 9 days BMW will tell us about a new car that we have already known about since last year .
So next week we have another article repeating what we have been told before, with maybe a few fillers, probably of little consequence..
Really don't see the point.
On point?
Well, have you got kids?, what about there future?, don't you want to contribute to cleaner, healthier life?, like most things we know we should be doing, we're all sticking our heads in the sand, thinking the future will be alright, we'll, it's going to need help, more people means more Housing, more cars, and more jobs, so, cars in urban and in any built up areas will need to be nannied, it won't affect me for long, I'll be happy for something or thing to drive for me!
Interest?
There is, which is why BMW, Mercedes and VAG are spending so much trying to catch up with Tesla. Forget the autonomous rubbish though
Agreed xxxx
Tesla has done an amazing job of pulling the legacy manufacturers into the new world. However it did that with the assistance of governments worldwide who created an environment whereby Tesla could sell their credits to legacy manufacturers, that alone likely kept Tesla float during the dark months, and also incentivised buyers to buy their vehicles. If we are now at the 'tipping point' should not those same governments now incentivise the legacy manufacturers to absorb the costs of switching from ICE to electric and incentivise those legacy manufacturers customers who stay with brand but switch from ICE to electric? If the goals are all as noble as portrayed, does that not help acheive those goals all the sooner?
Not interested...?
When you see that the last post but one was over a year ago, you wonder if there’s that much interest in EV Transport?