BMW is gearing up to launch an assortment
of electric vehicles including the iX3, i4 and iNext. Now, it appears the next-generation 5- and
7-Series could be among them. Citing company insiders, Handelsblatt is
reporting the 7-Series will gain an electric variant in 2022. A 5-Series EV
will then follow “shortly afterwards.”
The report doesn’t mention specifications,
but earlier rumors suggested the so-called i7 could be offered with multiple
batteries packs. Nothing is official, but the base i7 could have a 80 kWh
battery while the range-topping variant might have a larger 120 kWh battery
which could allow for a range of up to 700 km.
The same report also suggested the i7
could be offered with varying electric motors. The range-topping variant is
said to have two electric motor which would give the model all-wheel drive as
well as combined output of around 650 hp. The 5- and 7-Series
are also slated to be offered with petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains. With
the addition of pure electric variants, BMW will have effectively covered all
of the bases.
The multi-powertrain strategy has an added
benefit as BMW will be able to ramp up production of variants that prove
popular. If the electric 5- and 7-Series take off, BMW could increase
production of those variants while curtailing production of less popular
versions. The opposite is also true as the company could focus on petrol and
diesel versions if the EVs fail to resonate with consumers.
While both models are still a ways off,
the i4 is expected to be previewed next month. The model will go into
production in 2021 and feature an electric powertrain that develops around 523
hp. BMW has previously said this will enable the four-door
Gran Coupe to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in approximately four
seconds and hit a top speed in excess of 200 km/h. Furthermore, the
i4 will have a roughly 80 kWh battery which allows for a range of approximately 600 km in the WLTP cycle.
