Future BMW 3 Series and up all to become plug-in hybrids?

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

via: Autocar

Future BMW 3-series to lead EV revolution

BMW has embarked on a radical engineering overhaul which will result in a reinvented 3-series launching in 2022

BMW is getting ready to embark on a radical engineering and technology drive which could see all future models from the 3-series upwards, including the Rolls-Royce range, become all-wheel-drive range-extender electric cars.

BMW’s plan to make all of its cars from the 3-series upwards plug-in hybrids has forced the company’s engineers to rethink the make-up of its cars from first principles.

The big push behind this potentially game-changing rethink of the car is the looming EU fuel consumption regulations. Car makers have to hit a fleet average CO2 output of 95g/km, with a range of between 85g/km and 110g/km for the various brands.

When this target becomes fully applicable in 2021, a new CO2 fleet target will be set for 2025 and it is certain to be even more stringent.

Article at Autocar: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/ne...-ev-revolution

[Thumper333]

Unless it has 500+ mile range, can recharge in less than 5 minutes, and recharge stations at every gas station.......guess I won't be in a 3 series after that.

These things are fun tech fads, but can never replace a real car. Sad.

[antzcrashing]

I highly doubt it. Wasnt this the point of the i sub brand? Leave the working things alone

[IB M]

Only 8 years away, not really that long. I am sure the new cars will be high performance capable but I will still be holding on to my gas powered rear drive M3 thank you.

PS At least we can rest assured that making and disposing of batteries is environmentally friendly.

[spademonkey]

I think this is a smart move, and technology from the i3, i8, and eventual i9 will trickle down into these cars. It's where the industry is heading so adaptations need to be made. Besides, electric torque is awesome.

[ZEEM3R]

Don't care much about the plug in part but the 3 series should look like that right NOW.

[HamsF80]

The technology has a long way to go to make electric only cars a viable option in the US. Like myself, many Americans have long commutes to work and current electric technology won't support that. While I think it's noteworthy, I can't give it a serious thought.

[QuietQuirk]

That 3 series looks like a beast tho...

[Law]

2025 huh, so in about a decade.

Although quite a stretch i wouldn't rule out these possibilities at this point.

About a decade ago all BMWs were N/A, rear wheel drive (or rear biased x-drive) with a multitude of oil-burning and fuel consuming engines to choose from. Eights gears? That's too many. Why buys a BMW to save gas anyways?
BMW M swore never to turn to forced induction or to produce AWD M-cars.
Let's stick a V10 into a family sedan. Hell, let's work on putting the last of our iron-block, high revving, barely emissions compliant I-6 into our smallest roadster/coupe.


Fast forward to today: the entire BMW lineup has turbochargers and/or electric motors in the case of BMW i. For the first time EVER, there's a front-wheel drive BMW 2-series Active Tourer. BMW M has put efficiency as a top priority as well. Displacements & cylinder counts reduced across the board and traditional engine layouts dropped. Use of lightweight construction and materials are more common. 7 gears, 8 gears, ECO-mode, auto-start stop.
All the things that would've looked silly a decade back are now the norm.
None of this would've sat well with anyone in 2005...ECO-mode in a BMW? Auto-start stop to save 1-2 MPG in an M3?

We've seen quite a transformation in the past 10 years or so.
Changes across the entire car industry that seemed almost unimaginable.
But regulations are only the get tighter. As much as i dislike the whole efficiency/eco trend, it is a fact of the present & future that we have to acknowledge.

[chipotle_napkins]

Uh. No, no, no, no, NO I will be sticking to combustion engines thank you very much

[ORIGIN M.]

No 2er eDrive?

[ORIGIN M.]

Good lord that mirror is huge !

[deadfresh]

I currently have a 2013 650 and a 2015 Nissan Leaf. I got the leaf because it's basically free in Georgia with tax rebates. My commute to and from work is about 10 miles round trip. I get about 8mpg in traffic in the 650. If the 650 had a 25 - 30 mile all electric range I would be in heaven.

[Golden Arrow]

If the future cars will be range-extending plug ins, does that mean there will be an internal combustion engine on board to recharge the batteries?

[Golden Arrow]

Originally Posted by deadfresh

I currently have a 2013 650 and a 2015 Nissan Leaf. I got the leaf because it's basically free in Georgia with tax rebates. My commute to and from work is about 10 miles round trip. I get about 8mpg in traffic in the 650. If the 650 had a 25 - 30 mile all electric range I would be in heaven.

Georgia resident here. What do you mean "basically free?"

[Vector Pilot]

Technology doesn't stand still and it appears BMW doesn't intend to remain stagnate. Issues resolving limited range and developing rapid recharge are in the pipeline.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Maybe this "rethink" will end up being a positive, but it sure sounds pretty horrible to me in 2015.

[Doctor///M]

More time with my new ///M = combustion bliss :-)

[Golden Arrow]

Originally Posted by Thumper333

Unless it has 500+ mile range, can recharge in less than 5 minutes, and recharge stations at every gas station.......guess I won't be in a 3 series after that.

These things are fun tech fads, but can never replace a real car. Sad.

I bet cowboys said the same about the switch from horses to automobiles.

[MalibuBimmer]

Originally Posted by spademonkey

I think this is a smart move, and technology from the i3, i8, and eventual i9 will trickle down into these cars. It's where the industry is heading so adaptations need to be made. Besides, electric torque is awesome.

The i9? What have I missed?

[Marioalex24]

I'm in. I'm loving my 500e right now. Can't wait this beast to come out. Soon will be jumping on an i3

[FogCityM3]

Sooo…I guess the rumors were true after all