BMW fans rejoice. There is now some news about what is happening with iNext. This SUV is expected to arrive in 2021 and packed with features never seen before.
iNext is designed to compete with Jaguar IPace. At present, there exists already some prototypes being assembled at the company's Pilot Plant at the core of its Research and Innovation Center. The prototypes are crucial since they will be used for testing as well as preparing for the actual production of the series, starting in 2021. Currently, it will be produced using a similar assembly line as the one being used for manufacturing combustion-powered vehicles as well as plug-in hybrids.
The company shared photos of these prototypes, essentially not showing that much but can still get a lot of fans excited. The prototypes look like ordinary SUVs since they look similar to the X3 as well as X5.
Udo Hanle, the head of Production Integration and Pilot Plant, claimed that just this preparation phase for the production of this flagship SUV is complicated enough. "Preparing a fully electric vehicle for series production is an exciting but challenging task. By the time of the official start of production, we will have built as many as 100 prototypes of the BMW iNEXT," he said. "Until then, the Pilot Plant will use a range of new innovations to streamline and speed up our processes even further. We are also already preparing our first production associates from Plant Dingolfing to work on the new product."
BMW's head of sales and marketing, Ian Robertson has once raised doubts about Tesla's ability to produce Model 3 in mass volume priced at $35,000. He then said that the INext would be a staunch competitor in this segment. According to Electrek, since the iNext is a crossover and not a sedan, which the Model 3 is, then Robertson might mean the INext can compete with Model 3 in the price point and not the feature.
Some executives already gushed about the iNext's 435-mile range. With such a range priced way below than expected, fans can truly not wait until 2021. It will also feature augmented reality technology, rotary bonding, and so much more!
Fans who cannot wait for the iNext can certainly check out other electric cars that the company plans to release ahead - the BMW iX3 and i4. The iX3 is already slated to be for sale next year, and the i4 will be on sale shortly after.
