Photo: bmw
Just the other day we were reporting that some rumors claim BMW will switch focus from a four-door i car to an SUV within the same sub-brand. As it turns out, we were right once again, saying that the chances of that happening before the new i5 comes out are extremely small.
The original rumors claimed that this move would be possible due to the new CEO’s desire to launch an SUV with an all-electric drivetrain. However, the development of a four-door sedan part of the i offensive had already begun before he took office. That means, the wheels were already set in motion.
On the other hand, the need for cleaner cars in the SUV segment is high. In this regard, new info is coming in from Munich that in the near future we will see more models being launched, powered by eDrive.
eDrive is the marketing term for all plug-in hybrid BMWs that aren’t included under the i umbrella. Such models include the new 3 Series Plug-in hybrid as well as the X5 xDrive40e and the fresh out the oven 740Le.
As it turns out, the first car from the new wave to receive the plug-in hybrid treatment will be the X1 xDrive23e. The name is supposed to give us a hint on the powertrain it will use as we knew it was coming out in the future due to our spyshots. That’s right, we caught the hybrid X1 out testing long before this news reached our ear.
The name was unknown until now though and it seems to point to a new hybrid powertrain, one that would have around 200 HP combined and would possibly be made up of a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder mill and an electric motor.
The electric motor couldn’t be the same as on the X5 or the 3 Series though, because the X1 uses an Aisin-sourced gearbox. That means we have a different scenario at hand here, one that could involve the electric motor being housed above the rear axle to make the car similar to the i8 but with a reverse orientation.
Either way, we suspect the 1.5-liter mill could be making around 130 HP while the electric motor would be good for around 70. That would give the X1 xDrive23e around 200 HP to play with, plenty for a car its size.
Then there’s the new X3 xDrive30e. This one will definitely be using the same powertrain from the 330e model, with a total maximum output of 252 HP and 420 Nm (310 lb-ft) of torque.
There will be a 2-liter 4-cylinder petrol turbocharged unit under the bonnet making 184 HP and an electric motor rated at 80 kW or 107 HP.
Furthermore, it seems like even more powerful hybrids are being developed at the moment for the X5 and X7 ranges. They will have around 500 HP and offer more performance than we need at the moment. It’s all going to unfold before the turn of the decade.
On the other hand, the need for cleaner cars in the SUV segment is high. In this regard, new info is coming in from Munich that in the near future we will see more models being launched, powered by eDrive.
eDrive is the marketing term for all plug-in hybrid BMWs that aren’t included under the i umbrella. Such models include the new 3 Series Plug-in hybrid as well as the X5 xDrive40e and the fresh out the oven 740Le.
As it turns out, the first car from the new wave to receive the plug-in hybrid treatment will be the X1 xDrive23e. The name is supposed to give us a hint on the powertrain it will use as we knew it was coming out in the future due to our spyshots. That’s right, we caught the hybrid X1 out testing long before this news reached our ear.
The name was unknown until now though and it seems to point to a new hybrid powertrain, one that would have around 200 HP combined and would possibly be made up of a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder mill and an electric motor.
The electric motor couldn’t be the same as on the X5 or the 3 Series though, because the X1 uses an Aisin-sourced gearbox. That means we have a different scenario at hand here, one that could involve the electric motor being housed above the rear axle to make the car similar to the i8 but with a reverse orientation.
Either way, we suspect the 1.5-liter mill could be making around 130 HP while the electric motor would be good for around 70. That would give the X1 xDrive23e around 200 HP to play with, plenty for a car its size.
Then there’s the new X3 xDrive30e. This one will definitely be using the same powertrain from the 330e model, with a total maximum output of 252 HP and 420 Nm (310 lb-ft) of torque.
There will be a 2-liter 4-cylinder petrol turbocharged unit under the bonnet making 184 HP and an electric motor rated at 80 kW or 107 HP.
Furthermore, it seems like even more powerful hybrids are being developed at the moment for the X5 and X7 ranges. They will have around 500 HP and offer more performance than we need at the moment. It’s all going to unfold before the turn of the decade.
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