2018-01-16 08:50
BMW will give us a glimpse at its new ‘groundbreaking’ autonomous vehicle, which has been referred to as the iNEXT, later this year.
The new fully electric model will launch in 2021, debut BMW’s new vehicle architecture and take the form of an SUV similar in size to an X5, Auto Express can reveal. It will be one of 12 new fully electric vehicles from BMW by 2025 and launch shortly after the BMW i5 saloon, previewed by the Vision Dynamics concept.
• The ultimate guide to self driving cars
Head of BMW i Product Management Alexander Kotouc told us: “I can promise you that this year you will see something and touch something – you need to let people experience what is coming.
“It’s groundbreaking; the iNEXT will be more of the shape and size of an X5. It will have a completely different interior and be able to seat five people.”
The iNEXT will be one of the first cars to sit on BMW’s new common platform that will allow the brand to build conventional petrol and diesel cars, plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles all on the same platform.
Because the platform is flexible, battery sizes for all electric models, like the iNEXT, will range from 60kWh to 120kWh, which will mean an all-electric range of at least 280 miles up to 435 miles.
A range of power outputs for the platform have also been confirmed; a more compact electric motor will be incorporated and be offered in 134bhp, 255bhp, 335bhp and 443bhp states of tune. The platform is able to house an electric motor on each axle to facilitate four-wheel drive, while a triple motor setup could be used for performance models and could develop up to 800bhp. It’s likely that the iNEXT will feature a larger battery pack and more powerful electric motor setup.
The design of the iNEXT is also close to being signed of, according to Kotouc: “I saw last week the latest design ideas and I can say it’s really impressive. It’s looking bold; people will buy it even if they don’t want an electric car because of the design.”
It’s expected that the iNEXT will launch with level-three autonomous technology, so the vehicle is in full control of all functions with the driver able to take over when needed. Eventually the iNEXT will be capable of level four and five autonomous driving, where occupants have hardly any input.
BMW’s joint purchase of mapping company Here with Daimler and Volkswagen is playing a key part in that. And it’s working with companies such as computing giant Intel and Mobileye, one of the world leaders in artificial intelligence.
“We’re going to see what we believe to be the first full autonomous capability,” said Ian Robertson, BMW’s sales and marketing boss. “We’ve assembled quite a powerful group, so putting these big companies together with this company we own [Here] is giving us a powerful move down the autonomous road.”
However, Robertson is very open about the technology not being ready yet. “There are a lot of people talking about autonomous driving at the moment,” he said, “but first of all the technology isn’t robust enough. It’s not good enough to say it will be better for most of the time – it needs to be better all of the time.”
Are you looking forward to seeing the BMW iNEXT SUV concept? Let us know below...
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