Browse over 9,000 car reviews

BMW hints at i5 to join electric car line-up

BMW i5 electric car artist's impression.

BMW's little i3 city car and i8 sports car are just the start of the electric range for the German prestige brand, with an executive telling media at Detroit motor show the next car is in works.

BMW's head of electric vehicle operations and strategy, Jacob Harb, hinted to AutoblogGreen that what is being developed is likely to be an i5, although he stopped short of giving a name to the project.

"You can probably take an educated guess at the next thought process, something a little bigger, maybe a little more range, relative to the i3," Harb is cited as saying. "We've got everything trademarked and we're exploring the best, next iteration. It is coming. It's in development now." Harb is reported as adding he would be heading to Munich as early as next week to "start the discussions further".

We've reported previously that BMW was tipped to have already registered a series of nameplates, ranging from i1 up to i11 and it's likely that their next step would be a more family-focused car to aim for volume sales numbers.

News last year suggested that an i5 could be in the works with BMW planning to stretch the platform that underpins the i3 to create a roomier -- and more family-focused -- vehicle.

Suggestions are that the 4000mm platform could grow another 100mm of rear legroom and an additional 150mm of rear overhang to make for extra luggage space. Unlike the integrated monocoque steel platforms of most cars, the i3 has a separate aluminium chassis 'skateboard' -- on which sits the 'hat' of the carbon-composite body -- making it easier to extend the platform length and change the body and doors.

However there will also be the question of whether the current i3's drivetrain will have enough grunt to cope with the extra load, once people and family cargo also climb aboard. The all-electric variant gets a 130-160km range from its 25kW/250Nm motor and lithium-ion battery pack.

And while the range-booster variant gets 300km with the addition of a 647cc motorbike engine that keeps the battery topped up, it also takes on board an extra 150kg. So a larger sibling may mean we'll also see a stronger drivetrain solution.

This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott