- BMW is reportedly committed to offering a duo of compact EVs, with the i1 and i2 offerings.
- The i1 will be offered in hatchback and sedan forms, while the i2 is expected in SUV and coupe-SUV bodystyles.
- The models will reportedly be sold alongside the ICE-powered 1-Series and 2-Series.
BMW might have just unveiled the new 1-Series hatchback with combustion engines, but a similarly positioned entry-level EV has reportedly gotten the green light for production. Sources close to BMW claim that the i1 and i2 will debut in 2027 and 2028 respectively, as fully electric alternatives to the ICE-powered 1-Series and 2-Series.
The BMW i1 is expected to be available in hatchback and sedan bodystyles, while the i2 could adopt SUV and coupe-SUV forms. Interestingly, the i2 is described as a spiritual successor to the discontinued i3, BMW’s first production EV sold between 2013 and 2022. While there is no official word on the upcoming EVs, their design will likely stay true to the styling language introduced by the BMW Neue Klasse concepts.
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The two models are poised to become the entry point in BMW’s fully electric range, positioned below the iX1, currently the brand’s smallest and most affordable EV. They are expected to co-exist with the 1-Series and 2-Series for a few years, as BMW wants to keep ICE-powered vehicles in production for as long as possible.
As reported by Autocar, the BMW i1 and i2 are expected to ride on a new version of the 800V Neue Klasse architecture, called NBx, which will potentially underpin future generations of the BMW iX1 and Mini Countryman Electric.
Unlike the RWD-derived NAx architecture that will debut in the upcoming i3 sedan and iX3 SUV, the NBx is FWD-based, making it more suitable for compact models. Both versions of the Neue Klasse architecture are compatible with AWD, and use a new type of cylindrical batteries offering improved performance. The company also readies the NDx platform for larger luxury models, and the ZAx for future electric sportscars.
BMW Vision Neue Klasse X SUV (left) and Vision Neue Klasse sedan (right)
BMW’s product boss, Bernd Korber, said that entry-level models like the 1-Series and 2-Series might have “lower profitability”, but they are essential for the brand to “connect with the younger generation” in certain markets.
Korber said that the compact BMWs are still part of their strategy, adding: “it’s good that we have two brands in the segment [BMW / Mini], with of course Mini playing a big role”. The product boss agreed that the upcoming demise of the rival Mercedes-Benz A-Class in 2026 presents an opportunity for the BMW 1-Series to grow its market share.
BMW has confirmed plans to launch six new models on the Neue Klasse architecture within two years from the debut of the first one in 2025. Speaking about the upcoming product overhaul, Korber said: “We will change the entire portfolio within a relatively short period of time, so that it has one look and feel and also the same capabilities. Our ambition is that we unify that in a way that ideally one push of the button and your entire portfolio gets updated.”
Note: These independent renderings are off-the-record and unrelated to BMW
