Photo: Kleber Silva
There's a joke on the internet about teens living in their parents' basement having the lowest carbon footprint in the world. BMW kind of made the car equivalent of that with the i3, which proved extremely uncool for the very reasons that make it an eco-friendly way to travel.
Can it go for 300 miles? No, because big batteries are heavy and most commutes are short. Will it outrun a Hellcat? You're not even taking this seriously!
BMW has learned its lessons and is now making big, powerful EVs instead. The first is the iX3, based on the X3 crossover, followed by the i4, which is a lot like the 4 Series four-door coupe. As you may have noticed, these models are developed using existing platforms, and the i1 should be no exception.
According to a British media report, the i1 would be ready by 2021 as an all-electric version of the existing 1 Series. The hatchback's new platform isn't exactly like the UKL you'll find under MINIs, and we know all along that it was built with electricity in mind.
“Even in the front-drive architecture you will see fully electrified cars. You will see electrification in our whole portfolio. We can rework our front-wheel-drive as well as the rear-wheel-drive platforms and both are able to show all technologies – our customers have the power of choice. Whatever they demand they can get – a plug-in hybrid X3, a fully-electric 4 Series, too. That’s a big step and a big change in our strategy," head of BMW’s i Division, Robert Irlinger, told Auto Express.
BMW is reportedly calling this 5th generation electric powertrain technology, and it allows them to put EVs, plug-in and normal cars together on the same line, a bit like VW did with the e-Golf.
Of course, the i1 would be styled differently from a normal 1 Series model. How differently you ask? Well, check out this rendering from Kleber Silva. It's all about that new grille design you saw on BMW's concepts, joined in the middle and quite large. Also, the bumpers area streamlined and its wheels cut through the air more efficiently.
BMW has learned its lessons and is now making big, powerful EVs instead. The first is the iX3, based on the X3 crossover, followed by the i4, which is a lot like the 4 Series four-door coupe. As you may have noticed, these models are developed using existing platforms, and the i1 should be no exception.
According to a British media report, the i1 would be ready by 2021 as an all-electric version of the existing 1 Series. The hatchback's new platform isn't exactly like the UKL you'll find under MINIs, and we know all along that it was built with electricity in mind.
“Even in the front-drive architecture you will see fully electrified cars. You will see electrification in our whole portfolio. We can rework our front-wheel-drive as well as the rear-wheel-drive platforms and both are able to show all technologies – our customers have the power of choice. Whatever they demand they can get – a plug-in hybrid X3, a fully-electric 4 Series, too. That’s a big step and a big change in our strategy," head of BMW’s i Division, Robert Irlinger, told Auto Express.
BMW is reportedly calling this 5th generation electric powertrain technology, and it allows them to put EVs, plug-in and normal cars together on the same line, a bit like VW did with the e-Golf.
Of course, the i1 would be styled differently from a normal 1 Series model. How differently you ask? Well, check out this rendering from Kleber Silva. It's all about that new grille design you saw on BMW's concepts, joined in the middle and quite large. Also, the bumpers area streamlined and its wheels cut through the air more efficiently.
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