Photo: Catalin Garmacea
By now it’s becoming pretty obvious that BMW is working on another i model that will be either a plug-in hybrid or a pure-electric vehicle. First there was mention of an ‘i5’, a name that was also trademarked by the Germans and then news about a 588 mpg prototype came out, even confirmed by the company itself.
Now Automobile Magazine comes out with new info on what to expect of the new i5 as this seems to be the obvious choice for the publication. They claim that this would be the perfect alternative/rival for the popular Tesla Model S on the eco-friendly front.
According to them, the i5 will be similar in size to the i8 but will have four seats and a three-box design, one that some would call ‘a sedan.' Why? Because this is the most popular pick in key markets such as China and the US. Let us remind you that recently China started slowing down to a halt in terms of sales and that crossovers seem to be the hype these days. Not looking good for their assumptions so far.
What we can believe though is that the i5 will come out in two variants, similar to the i3 if you will but not in the configuration that they are talking about. According to the magazine, it would be one close to the i8 instead, that uses two motors to power the car. One would be a small turbocharged unit while the other an electric motor, both working in tandem.
If we’re to think about the 588 mpg prototype, we’d bet our money on a version that is primarily an EV with a range of around 100 miles (160 km) that can also be had with a range extender feature that would allow it to cover huge distances by burning small amounts of fuel to recharge the batteries. The main differences would be that the internal combustion engine would be even smaller and wouldn’t send any of its power straight to the asphalt.
However, the one thing we can completely agree on is the fact that it will be definitely lighter than the Tesla. Thanks to CFRP and aluminum usage, even with the battery pack onboard the i5 should tip the scale at around 3,300 lbs (1,500 kg) which will make it around 1,500 lbs (680 kg) lighter than its rival.
Of course, by then, a new version of the Model S should come out, with better materials and less weight to carry around but at the rate Tesla is launching cars, don’t get your hopes up!
According to them, the i5 will be similar in size to the i8 but will have four seats and a three-box design, one that some would call ‘a sedan.' Why? Because this is the most popular pick in key markets such as China and the US. Let us remind you that recently China started slowing down to a halt in terms of sales and that crossovers seem to be the hype these days. Not looking good for their assumptions so far.
What we can believe though is that the i5 will come out in two variants, similar to the i3 if you will but not in the configuration that they are talking about. According to the magazine, it would be one close to the i8 instead, that uses two motors to power the car. One would be a small turbocharged unit while the other an electric motor, both working in tandem.
If we’re to think about the 588 mpg prototype, we’d bet our money on a version that is primarily an EV with a range of around 100 miles (160 km) that can also be had with a range extender feature that would allow it to cover huge distances by burning small amounts of fuel to recharge the batteries. The main differences would be that the internal combustion engine would be even smaller and wouldn’t send any of its power straight to the asphalt.
However, the one thing we can completely agree on is the fact that it will be definitely lighter than the Tesla. Thanks to CFRP and aluminum usage, even with the battery pack onboard the i5 should tip the scale at around 3,300 lbs (1,500 kg) which will make it around 1,500 lbs (680 kg) lighter than its rival.
Of course, by then, a new version of the Model S should come out, with better materials and less weight to carry around but at the rate Tesla is launching cars, don’t get your hopes up!
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