Bmw’S Novel Caput Of R&D Says Side Past Times Side 1 Model Non Due Until 2020
Klaus Frohlich, BMW’s novel caput of R&D, says the fellowship volition launch a 3rd BMW i automobile precisely it won’t larn inwards until at to the lowest degree 2020.
“We are nevertheless inwards the strategic query stage where nosotros brainstorm,” BMW Group R&D main Klaus Froehlich told Automotive News Europe. “Teams that commencement alongside a white canvass of paper. They utter alongside customers, agree workshops, in addition to so introduce their ideas in addition to nosotros decide.”
Froehlich disputed media reports that claimed the 3rd model afterward the i3 in addition to i8 would survive a variant of the X5 premium large SUV. He said the mission of the i subbrand is to alter the perception of how a low-emissions automobile should hold off in addition to perform, thence at that topographic point are no plans to re-package an existing BMW Group model in addition to telephone band it an i model.
Also, he said the i subbrand is supposed to survive a starting signal for cutting-edge excogitation that progressively moves downward into the residue of the automaker’s lineup. Current examples include carbon fiber, which is a fundamental business office of the i3 in addition to i8 in addition to is moving into other BMWs, in addition to the i8’s plug-in hybrid powertrain, which is beingness added to high-volume models such every bit X5, 3 serial in addition to four series.
BMW volition focus on steadily improving the i3 in addition to i8 during the six-plus years until the subbrand’s portfolio grows again.
“We convey a minimum xx pct battery density improvement every 3 years, thus over the i3 in addition to i8’s life cycle, nosotros volition offering to a greater extent than performance, to a greater extent than arrive at or a combination of the two,” Frohlich said.
When asked whether electrical flow i3 in addition to i8 owners would survive able to switch to the to a greater extent than powerful electrical powertrains Froehlich said: “I don’t intend a retrofit makes sense. When improve batteries are available, nosotros could in addition to so offering models alongside a longer arrive at or alongside the same arrive at precisely at a lower price.”
BMW Ceo Norbert Reithofer, who approved the i projection skunkworks that developed the lightweight, low-cost carbon-fiber composites in addition to electrical drivetrains for the i3 in addition to i8, volition footstep downward inwards May to survive be replaced past times Harald Krüger, electrical flow caput of production. Krüger is known to convey a to a greater extent than pragmatic persuasion of electrical vehicles than Reithofer.
BMW's previous R&D Chief, Herbert Diess, who oversaw the launch of the i3 in addition to i8, in addition to was thought to survive a potential successor for BMW's CEO purpose was lately poached past times Volkswagen to cash inwards one's chips chairman of VW's rider automobile brand.
