BMW iNext 4
Marton Pettendy13 Jun 2017
NEWS

BMW iNEXT SUV taking shape

Third BMW i model could be the world’s most advanced autonomous electric SUV

BMW i has admitted its long-awaited third model line — due in 2021 and likely to be an all-electric, fully autonomous large crossover — will be late to the e-SUV party, but promises it will be the most advanced vehicle of its type.

By the time BMW releases its next i-car, dubbed iNEXT, in four years (more likely five for Australians, if they get access to it at all), it will have been beaten to market by not only Tesla, but Jaguar, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

But the global head of product management at BMW i, Dr Alex Kotouc, says the most autonomous, connected and electrified BMW ever will not just be evolutionary like its long-range electric SUV rivals, but revolutionary.

Last month BMW announced the iNEXT, which is expected match its competitors with a 500km driving range between recharges and trump them with Level 3 (eyes off) autonomous functionality, will be produced at its Dingolfing plant north-west of Munich.

Previously, BMW has already committed to releasing the MINI Countryman PHEV this year, the i8 Roadster PHEV in 2018, a MINI EV in 2019, the X3 EV (the first electric BMW model) in 2020 and the ‘iNEXT’ in 2021, all of which are under consideration for Australia.

BMW iNext 2

What will it be called?
Now, speaking in Sydney last week at the launch of BMW Australia’s seventh plug-in model – the 530e, which joins the i8, i3 EV and i3 PHEV, and its ‘iPerformance stablemates, the 330e, 740e and X5 40e -- Dr Kotouc gave the strongest indication yet the iNEXT will be an electric SUV likely to be badged as the i5, i6 or i7.

“I can confirm we have the legal right to every name from i1 to i12, so it’s up to your imagination what we will do next,” he said in response to reports it will be called the i5.

“The i5 [name] we never actually confirmed. The car we refer to as iNEXT will come in 2021. If it will be called something like i5, i6, i7, i whatever I don’t really know at this moment, but it could be something like this nomenclature.”

What will it look like?
The BMW i product boss made it clear the next i-model will leverage the global surge in SUV sales and appeal to families, just as the i3 hatch targeted city-dwellers and the i8 coupe was aimed at sports car lovers.

“We started with something like an urban vehicle because it makes the most sense, it’s perfect for driving in the city,” he said.

“[But] it makes sense to have a bigger car with a longer range, so it can be your first car and you really can go with your family on a proper vacation.

“It could be the shape of an SUV. Given the sales of SUVs it would make sense to go into an SUV, but more so when it comes to the shape and versatility, because I don’t think somebody will really want to have an all-terrain electric vehicle that goes through the mountains. Something like a crossover.”

Why is it so far away?
Dr Kotouc said he was aware of the perception BMW i was sitting on its hands while its competitors announced plans to release new electric models sooner, even if it has the i8 Roadster and facelifted i3 coming.

But he said iNEXT would trump them all with “next level” electromobility, connectivity and autonomy.

“The question I’ve heard is why is it taking so long? Why don’t we have something coming sooner?” he said.

“We have cars coming. The i8 open version is coming, but the answer to why the iNEXT is coming in 2021 is pretty easy.

“It’s because we at BMW, if we do something, we do it right. There are always steps when it comes to technology. There will be a huge step at the end of the 20th Century. The next step will come after 2020.

“There will be a huge leap in battery range, and a huge leap in automated driving technology. So it makes much more sense to wait until this leap in technology is ready for our customers in the next level of i car. It’s a real next level.

“We could bring another car in the same timeframe as the other manufacturers – [20]18, 19 – but it would still be something like evolution not revolution.

“We’d rather wait a little bit -- let all the competition come -- even if we’re a little bit behind them. So you’ll see a lot of electric cars come in 18/19, but they’re still based on current technology.

“In 2021 we will have technology which will be next level.”

What will make it special?
BMW insists that power management – not just energy density -- is the next big step in high-voltage lithium-ion battery technology.

“It’s battery technology, but also how to steer the electric power in the battery,” said Dr Kotouc.

“The more energy you put in the battery, the more energy you take out. This process is not good for the battery so you need to have the technology that puts the most energy into the battery without harming it.

“It’s more about battery steering. In the future batteries will be a commodity and will be made everywhere. But the real trick is how to manage the energy flow into and out of the battery.

“This will be the major differentiator with the technology we are currently developing. We will be able to get more energy in and out of the battery safely than other manufacturers.

“It’s all about the technology of the battery and the steering of the energy flow within the battery.”

What comes after that for BMW i?
It won’t be BMW’s first electric SUV – that honour will go to the battery-powered X3 due in 2020 – but Dr Kotouc claims the iNEXT will not just be differentiated by its advanced powertrain and self-driving capability, but its “interior of the future”.

He said this could extend to features like swiveling seats, a fold-away steering wheel and a windscreen that blacks out in autonomous mode or can be completely occupied by a head-up display.

The BMW i product strategist said these advanced features could be applied to other future i models, including a sedan.

“If you consider you want to have interaction between the people in the car, you need a certain roof height to give freedom for people in the car, so this speaks more to something like an SUV shape and not a sedan shape.

“Which is not to say we’re not looking into a sedan shape as well – or a coupe or other emotional cars.
Other competitors are going in this direction as well, so we are looking into different shapes, different customer studies.

“We won’t do all the [i] numbers. We will only fill the numbers that make sense to meet customer demand. But I can promise you it will grow.”

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