BMW I5 in 'Final Stages' of Body Style Decision
BMW is in “the final stages” of deciding which model type the BMW i5 will be.
The BMW i5 will be the next model for the German automaker’s electric i sub-brand, following in the footsteps of the current i3 and i8 offerings. According to BMW board member for sales and marketing, Ian Robertson, the company is close to deciding what sort of body style the BMW i5 will be and has narrowed the choices down to two candidates: a lengthened version of the i3 or a traditional sedan to rival the upcoming Tesla Model 3.
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Robertson also confirmed that BMW has more i products under consideration. The BMW i5 will likely debut sometime next year to coincide with the automaker’s centenary celebrations. He also admitted that sales of the BMW i3 have been modest, but are up 60 percent year-over-year, making the i3 the third best-selling electric vehicle in the world. The BMW i8 on the other hand is widely considered a success with a waiting list of pending orders.
[Source: Autocar]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Please BMW, go with a more traditional sedan for the i5; we have enough ugly electrics already. As much as we would like to have an i3, being "car people", we just can't do it. Perhaps owning traditional 5 and 7 series has spoiled us.
I saw an i3 on the road a couple of months ago - it makes the Pontiac Aztec look good. Please, BMW, stick with a sedan style. You don't have a clue when it comes to small hatch/suv styling.