Every vehicle in BMW’s range will be offered with an electrified variant by the time 2020 ticks around but the company is remaining confident that these models won’t undermine its goal of creating the ultimate driving machines.
BMW Group chief executive Harald Kruger recently told Car and Driver that there is no conflict between the electrification of its range and the brand’s driving experience and excellent chassis dynamics. He says that given the boost in performance which electrification can provide, it will add another element of driving pleasure.
Although the brand will offer numerous battery-electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models by 2020, it doesn’t see these vehicles accounting for more than 20 per cent of its sales until beyond 2025. When that time comes, hydrogen fuel-cell cars will be added to its range, likely starting with the firm’s largest and most luxurious models.
Alongside adopting the latest technology in electrification, BMW will extend its autonomous driving systems throughout its fleet and doesn’t expect these features to detract from its models either.
In fact, development chief Klaus Frohlich recently said “It’s not fun to drive in heavy traffic. It’s not fun to be in a dense area and try to find parking. These autonomous abilities will be an option for the driver to choose, not the only mode. Our drivers will always have a choice, and our architectures can do both. It’s not rocket science. It’s not so difficult.”
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