[Amgeater2]

Originally Posted by krnnerdboy

Build it and I will buy it

+1

[bates1325]

does it come in black Lucius?

[psuibmw]

Hopefully it has easy in and out ... I tried i8 and it is hell to enter or exit the car ... Big dude talking

[tareemaa]

4 door i8... Yes please, but only if it's somewhat affordable, tesla model s price range.

[eric@helix]

I like the styling--and it better be good--the Tesla is pretty sweet looking.

[yousefnjr]

Pretty sure I read somewhere (maybe from Scott) that the next i-model will borrow from the RFK concept (Benz R-Class competitor) and will focus on practicality instead of sport. I wouldn't expect anything good looking or fast. Probably some kind of million-MPG crossover. Ugly, of course.

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by yousefnjr

Pretty sure I read somewhere (maybe from Scott) that the next i-model will borrow from the RFK concept (Benz R-Class competitor) and will focus on practicality instead of sport. I wouldn't expect anything good looking or fast. Probably some kind of million-MPG crossover. Ugly, of course.

I think Scott was referring to a competitor of Tesla's up and coming Model X.

BMW needs to be concerned with the Infiniti LE as well as Tesla Model 3 IMO.

[fecurtis]

If BMW builds that car and it looks anything like that rendering, in my opinion it'll be one of the nicest looking BMW's in decades. Absolutely stunning rendering.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by Powerslide

Very exciting to think of such a vehicle being greenlighted for production. An M version of this car would give the M division a huge competitive advantage over its rivals (AMG, Audi RS, Cadillac V, etc.).

The i8 (which apparently was developed entirely outside of the M Division) has far greater performance that what anyone expected. Take an i5 (which will only build upon lessons learned from the i8) and to a track-capable "M" version, and wow.... Sign me up!!!!!

Not gonna happen, BMW seems adamant at this time to keep M GmbH and it's i division as two separate houses. Don't look for any joint projects between the two anytime soon.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Looks almost just like a Tesla, just with the badge and kidneys. Almost no BMW design language to speak of in this model.

I give up.

It's an independent render, judging by the looks, the person who did it just took a stock Tesla photo and shopped i8 design elements into it.

Looks sharp though.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by yw

When to Expect It

Production of the i5 will likely be assigned to BMW’s Leipzig plant, where production of the 1 Series and 3 Series would be phased out. We expect production to start in 2019.

Production of the 3 Series at Leipzig stopped many, many years ago with the e90(pre lci) production. Leipzig currently builds; 2 Series(including the Active Tourer van(s)), i3 and i8's. Leipzig is BMW's most cutting edge & modern factory.

3 Series are built in; Regensburg and Munich and Rosslyn, Pretoria(South Africa)


It is a shame that BMW has canceled the Z2(FWD) program. An entry level, small sporty car would do wonders for BMW and its enthusiasts - looking for a fun small tossable car.

[FilipMPower]

I like this idea of the i5 and I definitely dig the i styling, which is everything but boring and bland.. But to make it realistic, the car would have to stay electric pure. There are some problems however. BMW must somehow increase the range to compete with the Model S range. The pricing should not be higher than a mid-specced 3 series and I don't like the permanent torque split. I wish the car would have a very strong rear motor and a weaker, assisting front engine. Somewhere around 300hp rear, 80hp front. Otherwise I'm glad to hear more about this.

[Imola.ZHP]

After driving my e46 ZHP sedan 6MT for nearly 9 years I took the plunge on an i3. I haven't even owned it 60 days yet and I will never buy another traditional ICE vehicle. I just hope that at the same time they release the i5 they also release a CRV sized iSAV to replace our CRV. I know I'm still in the honeymoon phase but I see myself driving the i3 for just as long if not longer than my ZHP. I just absofreekinlutely love it!

As for the i5 vs Model III comparo, they won't be in the same class, i5 will be in the Model S class and its price will be Model S like. As electric cars get smaller they have less chance of being a traditional sedan, think about the i3, if it had a trunk instead of a hatch it would have NO storage. The electric and REx (if equipped) motors are in the back. It had to be a hatch which is fine with me, I've liked hatches/wagons and mall SUV/SAV's all my life, the i3 is almost like all 3 bundled up into one, but then its coupe-like with just 2 exterior door handles, but then almost like a truck from the early 2000's with the suicide rear doors, I just love it. I have followed the i3 since it was a concept/rumor, did the pre-release event drive, took one home last fall for an extended test drive and finally brought one home.

[Manbnda]

A project like this obviously looks good. The challenge is in the retail price. It will have to be around the same of an ActiveHybrid 5. I assume BMW will have to substitute all of their ActiveHybrid for an "i" equivalent eventually.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

Not gonna happen, BMW seems adamant at this time to keep M GmbH and it's i division as two separate houses. Don't look for any joint projects between the two anytime soon.

With good reason. High performance is antithetical to the i brand's mission. EV products are supposed to be low-consumption, Eco-conscious vehicles. High performance isn't Eco.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by FilipMPower

I like this idea of the i5 and I definitely dig the i styling, which is everything but boring and bland.. But to make it realistic, the car would have to stay electric pure. There are some problems however. BMW must somehow increase the range to compete with the Model S range. The pricing should not be higher than a mid-specced 3 series and I don't like the permanent torque split. I wish the car would have a very strong rear motor and a weaker, assisting front engine. Somewhere around 300hp rear, 80hp front. Otherwise I'm glad to hear more about this.

The i3 is already in the mid-3 series price point. An i5 would have to be +$60k.

[nbennettksu]

Originally Posted by Dave 90TT

I like it, but I would like a coupe version. I would buy a new version of the original Tesla sportster if they made that, as well.

from what I remember, the coupe version was to be called the i8. I think they were set to produce it sometime in the near future. You should keep an eye out for it.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

With good reason. High performance is antithetical to the i brand's mission. EV products are supposed to be low-consumption, Eco-conscious vehicles. High performance isn't Eco.

Not really, the i3 actually is the fastest car BMW has from 0-30. I've driven one and I believe it, hell to 40 mph it was surprisingly fast and the car felt lightweight and was fun to toss around.

Now this car is no interstate destroyer or anything, it's more of a perfect car for urban areas. If I lived in downtown DC and worked in DC I'd actually consider getting an i3 in all honesty after driving it.

That said, yeah it's not "high performance" but the i8 pulls numbers similar to an M3/M4 which certainly means it's not slow or not high performance. Both run the quarter mile in the high 11/low 12 second range, not sure what universe wouldn't consider that "high performance".

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

The i3 is already in the mid-3 series price point. An i5 would have to be +$60k.

The i3 is currently overpriced and i guess this will be no exception.

[paul223]

Me like it. I wonder what MB is thinking of i brand.

[Kwando]

I will daily the shit out of this thing.

[phoenixbmwlife]

This is a great idea and I love the fact that BMW will directly compete with the Tesla S. I'm also happy they scrubbed the Z2 FWD model but I wish they were doing the i8S.

In any case we can never control what others will do but I'm pleased with an i5 taking the best from the i3 and i8 and making an affordable lightweight, hybrid model that directly competes with Tesla.