BMW Planning "Neuer Elektro-Van" Prius V Competitor

by Derek Kreindler

January 27th, 2012 11:48 AM

bmw planning neuer elektro van prius v competitor

BMW is said to be planning a new minivan-esque competitor to the Toyota Prius V, dubbed the i5. We like the name given to it in the original Autobild story; Neuer Elektro-Van.

Given the gap between the diminutive i3 city car and the i8 sports car, the i5 seems like a logical bride between the two. Autobild’s rendering suggests that it won’t be a stodgy, van like vehicle, but a slightly enlarged 1-Series hatchback as far as looks go. The i5 should seat 5, and offer a 170 horsepower electric drivetrain. A 3-cylinder gasoline range extender is also said to be in the works.

#BMW #BmwI3 #BmwI5 #BmwI8 #CityCar #ElectricCar #GermanCar #LuxuryCar

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4 of 8 comments

Volt 230 on Jan 27, 2012

yeah, just try to match the Prius in reliability, good luck!

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Da Coyote on Jan 27, 2012

I must admit that BMW may successfully excape the "Bangugly" motif with that machine. Heck, I'd even consider purchasing one - IF - they'd get the reliability better than the BMW 325 I owned.

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LeMansteve on Jan 27, 2012

I hope BMW is as successful and groundbreaking with the new i vehicles as they were with cars like the 2002. I'm also glad to see an electric drivetrain with some decent HP for once (though with electric motors, we all know its about teh torquez)! The perception of reliability will definitely change as we substitute weaknesses and failure modes of the ICE+transmission with those of an electric drivetrain. We have already coined the first term: range anxiety.

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-Cole- on Jan 27, 2012

You thought it stopped at the 5GT

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