[Bosozoku]

Woooooooooo HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

That is all.

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by DeeKay

Might just be me, but I don't think they will make a i8-like-front on it. Looks good, but on the other hand it looks a bit too much like it's trying to look like an i8, while obviously not being an i8?

Its a render by a magazine that wants to sell magazines, its not from bmw

[lawgone]

I don't like the i8 design or this. And my e92 looks much better than my F30. Bring back Bangle.

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Its a separate model. But could be a variant of the i5.
It will be practical crossover but also dynamic in appearance and nature.

So what you are saying is that the i5 will be a sedan, but will also be offered as a crossover? I i hope not only crossover, because hasnt bmw learned through i3 and 5gt that americans dont want a weird looking vehicle? Lets not make that mistake again

[Mandi90TT]

Originally Posted by nbennettksu

from what I remember, the coupe version was to be called the i8. I think they were set to produce it sometime in the near future. You should keep an eye out for it.

Yeah, I get the sarcasm/humor, but no....the i8 looks nothing like the i5 concept, even if the i5 concept is revisioned as a coupe. And, the stats for the i5 beat out the stats for the i8 (and yes, I know they will likely change) and the i8 is astronomically expensive, whereas, by nature of BMW line pricing, an i5 would be less expensive than an i8.

Thanks for trying, though.

Edit: I should add, the gullwing doors of the i8 disgust me.

[Mandi90TT]

Originally Posted by Bigiggs

I, like most on here thinks the i5 looks gorgeous. However, from a performance standpoint is this car not lacking a few horses? The Tesla S comes standard with 300 (and something) horsepower, whereas from this intial report it looks like the i5 would be equipped with 200ish. Not sure that weight reduction alone will bring straightline performance on par with a standard Tesla S, not to mention electric only range.

I think we read different articles:

The powerful i5 will come in two forms: electric-only and plug-in hybrid. The EV will have a 225-hp rear motor working in tandem with a 135-hp motor up front. A more potent rear motor in the plug-in will be good for about 275 hp, and a three- or four-cylinder engine will drive the front wheels. Torque-vectoring all-wheel drive will be standard.

So, the EV has 225+135=360 and the plug in hybrid will have 275+xxx=???

Unless I missed something.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

So what you are saying is that the i5 will be a sedan, but will also be offered as a crossover? I i hope not only crossover, because hasnt bmw learned through i3 and 5gt that americans dont want a weird looking vehicle? Lets not make that mistake again

Its not just about North America.

[matbl]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

In as short as 18 months we will have many brands w EV's to choose from with over 200 mile battery options!

Ohh? Which ones are you referring to? And please dont list PHEV's.

Anyway, the charging network problem will be there for all of them.

[DCG]

Perfect! The i3 really should have been called the i1 or i2, and this one should be the 3 Series i equivalent. BMW should rebrand the i3 because it looks nothing like the 3 Series which is BMW's bead and butter. Then make a bigger one called the i5.

[K-A]

This looks amazing.

And I'm even more thrilled to see that the new chiefs are seemingly intent in undoing the diluted, needless models that the previous CEO was going stupid bonkers with. It's a hopeful sign if the new guys want to bring an air of succinct leanness back to the business model.

[S65V8]

Tesla better knock their "affordable model(s)" out of the park before this i5 comes(if). This is serious competition imo.

[K-A]

Originally Posted by PhoenixWolf

Since BMW M and BMWi will stay separate and not work together, BMWi needs to create a performance section like BMW M so they can sell performance parts on i vehicles. It's probably only a matter of time.

I believe they will call it "BMW I'm" (patent pending).

[Pentium]

I'm not into Hybrids and EV and I don't think I will be any time soon

But it's good news, and a good render...

[Bigiggs]

Originally Posted by Dave 90TT

I think we read different articles:

So, the EV has 225+135=360 and the plug in hybrid will have 275+xxx=???

Unless I missed something.

Yes you are right, thank you for pointing that out. I quickly browsed the article at work.

[Jadar]

Originally Posted by yw

http://www.automobilemag.com/feature...eslas-model-s/

What We Know

The BMW i5 will look like a standard three-box, four-door sedan, not a crowd-stopping spaceship like its i-model siblings. Why? Because customers in key markets including China and the United States prefer sedans to any other body style.

The i5 will be about as long as the BMW i8, yet it will aim to be roomier than a 3 Series sedan by combining the longest possible wheelbase with the shortest possible front overhang. The i5 should have enough space for a family-size luggage compartment because it will stow its main electric motor between the rear wheels, just like the i3 and i8.

The powerful i5 will come in two forms: electric-only and plug-in hybrid. The EV will have a 225-hp rear motor working in tandem with a 135-hp motor up front. A more potent rear motor in the plug-in will be good for about 275 hp, and a three- or four-cylinder engine will drive the front wheels. Torque-vectoring all-wheel drive will be standard.

Thanks to the i5’s extensive use of carbon fiber like other i-models, the curb weight target is below 3,450 pounds.

Why It Matters

Project i needs the i5. The i3 is not exactly profitable, and the i8 is a high-end niche vehicle. The BMW i5 aims to split the difference by delivering four-door, four-passenger practicality in an EV package without being astronomically expensive. It will accomplish this by fusing bits of the i3 and i8 with a more basic vehicle architecture that’s cheaper to build. It’s safe to assume the i5 will be priced to compete with the Tesla Model S, which the i5 will have squarely in its sights.
Potential Pitfalls

Since the arrival in December of BMW’s new governing board, chairman Harald Krüger and R&D chief Klaus Fröhlich have scrutinized each and every future project proposed during the regime of former chief Norbert Reithofer, leading to the end of programs such as the i8S, Z2 roadster, and 2 Series GT. The i5 is about the only surviving product from Reithofer’s reign, but who knows if or when the new bosses will want to eradicate every trace of their predecessor.

When to Expect It

Production of the i5 will likely be assigned to BMW’s Leipzig plant, where production of the 1 Series and 3 Series would be phased out. We expect production to start in 2019.

What about the... BMW Z2?

Purists, rejoice: BMW has killed the front-wheel-drive Z2 roadster, which would've shared its chassis and powertrain with the Mini Cooper.

Attachment 1232525

Very very nice! I'd love to see where this goes!

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by SROC5

Tesla better knock their "affordable model(s)" out of the park before this i5 comes(if). This is serious competition imo.

Tesla is years ahead of BMWi.

It is BMWi thats needs to be worried !

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by matbl

Ohh? Which ones are you referring to? And please dont list PHEV's.

Anyway, the charging network problem will be there for all of them.

Nissan Leaf

Tesla Model 3

Chevrolet Bolt

All will have 200 mile battery options, in less than 18 months !

[BananaCar]

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

So what you are saying is that the i5 will be a sedan, but will also be offered as a crossover? I i hope not only crossover, because hasnt bmw learned through i3 and 5gt that americans dont want a weird looking vehicle? Lets not make that mistake again

I think safe to say as a Global company the bean counters considers other countries not just America. Global sells trumps what one market sales dictate.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by DCG

Perfect! The i3 really should have been called the i1 or i2, and this one should be the 3 Series i equivalent. BMW should rebrand the i3 because it looks nothing like the 3 Series which is BMW's bead and butter. Then make a bigger one called the i5.

That is not the point.
The i3 is a model from BMWi it has no bearing with standard BMW Portfolio.

[YWGT3]

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/bm...s-news-rumors/

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Its not just about North America.

When it comes to the i brand it kinda is. In europe they have diesels. China doesnt seem to care for electrics at all. So that leaves america in which i3 i8 and maybe someday i5

[r3dbimmer89]

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

When it comes to the i brand it kinda is. In europe they have diesels. China doesnt seem to care for electrics at all. So that leaves america in which i3 i8 and maybe someday i5

Isn't the i3 actually selling really well in North America? I read somewhere that it's one of the best selling electric cars on the market already.