BMW has dropped multiple hints over the past couple of years
about a new technological flagship code-named
the iNext, and at its annual general meeting held in Munich on Thursday the
automaker provided an early glimpse at the vehicle which is due in 2021.
The teaser goes some way toward confirming the iNext as a
crossover SUV with styling influenced by the i Vision
Dynamics concept (shown below) unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt auto
show. We can expect the final design to be similar in size and shape to an X5,
in other words a mid-size SUV.
Speaking at the annual general meeting, BMW CEO Harald
Krüger said a concept previewing the iNext will be revealed this year.
Being a technological flagship for BMW, the iNext will
incorporate multiple technologies that will define the automaker's cars going
into the future, the three main ones being electric propulsion, self-driving
capability and advanced interfaces.
BMW has confirmed the iNext will be a pure electric vehicle
with a fifth-generation
battery design. The biggest battery is expected to be a 120-kilowatt-hour
unit with over 400 miles of range.
The automaker has also confirmed the iNext will offer Level 3 self-driving capabilityin
certain highway situations. Level 3 means the driver can let go of the wheel
and even look away for extended periods, though they have to be ready to take
over within seconds.
BMW in April said the iNext will also be capable of Level 4
self-driving, though this feature may not be offered to the public initially.
This is because the situations required will be very limited and regulations
may not be ready in time to support it. BMW said the iNext's Level 4 capability
will function in traffic moving in the same direction and where there is a
solid barrier separating oncoming traffic. Level 4 capability is similar to
Level 3, with the key difference being a much longer time span given to the
driver to take back control.
As for the interface technology, BMW hinted at the
possibilities with its i
Future Interaction unveiled at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show. The
highlight was a gesture control system called AirTouch that enables control of
entertainment, navigation and communication functions using purely hand
gestures. Also planned for the iNext will be new connectivity features.
Underpinning the iNext will be the BMW Group's CLAR modular platform
designed for large cars, and production will take place at the automaker's main
plant located close to its Munich headquarters.
The iNext will be one of 12 electric cars that
the BMW Group will launch by the end of 2025. The first of these will be an
electric Mini Hardtop due in 2019. It will be followed by an iX3 in 2020, and
then the iNext in 2021. An i4
sedan has also been confirmed.
source: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1114828_bmw-teases-inext-tech-flagship-says-concept-coming-in-2018
by Viknesh Vijayenthiran
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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