Last time we saw BMW testing the 2021 iNext electric
SUV was close to the Arctic Circle, but this time we get to see the camouflaged
test car in a more urban environment and peek inside for a quick look. It’s obvious that the dashboard
in this particular car is far from complete, but the layout appears to be new
and totally bespoke, contrary the interior of the i4 that appears similar to
that of a 3-Series.
The dashboard’s lower lines create a more airy
feeling in the cabin, reminding us of the interior in the i3, while the
traditional-for-BMW high center console remains, along with a gear lever,
despite the fact that this is an electric vehicle and there are no actual
gears.
Of course there’s always the possibility that BMW
just cobbled together a temporary interior for testing purposes. After all,
we’re still two years away from seeing the actual production version, so we
can’t be 100 percent sure about if it’ll look like this.
The 2021 iNext is expected to ride on the BMW’s
radical new architecture that’s compatible with both ICE and EV models. The
iNext is expected to feature a rear-mounted electric powertrain, with the
battery pack mounted on the floor between the two axles for a lower center of
gravity and better weight distribution.
BMW has officially promised that, when the iNext
arrives on the market, it will offer more than 600 km of driving
range, Level 3 automated driving technology and cutting-edge connectivity
features. Straight-line performance is also expected to be quite strong, with
the iNext concept promising a 0-100 km/h in around 4 seconds.
Finally, the iNext will also serve as a development
mule for the company’s fully autonomous Level 4 and Level 5 technologies,
starting from 2021 onwards.
