BMW has been talking about the iNEXT for years but little is actually known about the vehicle at this point. That’s starting to change as an executive has told Automotive News the upcoming model will be a crossover instead of a sedan like the Vision Next 100 concept.
BMW teased the iNEXT earlier this month and confirmed plans to unveil a concept later this year. The concept will likely debut at the Paris Motor Show in October and the teaser image suggested the model will be a relatively large crossover with streamlined bodywork. The picture also hinted the iNEXT will follow in the footsteps of the i Vision Dynamics concept and feature a distinctive greenhouse with trapezoidal shapes at the B-pillar.
iNEXT Will Be A Technology Flagship
The executive didn’t say much else but the model but the iNEXT is expected to be positioned above the iX3 which is slated to be launched in 2020. This would make sense as the company has previously referred to the iNEXT as a “technology flagship” and BMW Chairman Harald Krüger has stated “For the first time, we are combining all key technologies for future mobility in one vehicle. The iNEXT is fully electric, fully connected and also offers highly automated driving.”
The iNEXT will go into production in 2021 at the company’s Dingolfing plant in Germany. BMW has been tight-lipped about specifics but the iNEXT will become the brand’s first “Gen 5” vehicle and the company has already confirmed these types of models will be offered with a modular battery pack that ranges in sizes from 60 kWh to 120 kWh. This will enable future electric vehicles to have a range of up to 700 km (435 miles) on a single charge.
