BMW i5/i7 Plug-In Hybrid Coming In 2018

There must be a lot of interesting conversations happening in BMW’s Munich, Germany headquarters these days. First there’s the technology alliance with Toyota, which could give birth to a hydrogen-powered Bimmer as well as a hybrid sports car, and there’s been at least some kind of informal discussions with Tesla’s Elon Musk. And of course, there’s BMW’s own successful plug-in cars, the i3 and i8.

According to the UK’s Car Magazine, the rumored BMW i5/i7 will continue in the tradition of the i3 and i8, but boasting two electric motors and a zero-emissions range of up to 80 miles per charge. The setup will be similar to the drivetrain of the i8, with no mechanical connection between the front and rear wheels, though in this case with an electric motor situated on each axle.

The front motor will be good for about 245 horsepower, and the rear motor about 95 ponies, with a 245 horsepower four-cylinder range extender bringing total output to about 545 horsepower. The gas engine will assist at speeds above 40 MPH, though the i5/i7 is being designed to operate primarily on battery power. The plug-in hybrid can operate using either the front or rear electric motors alone, together, or in conjunction with the range extender, which from the sounds of it will also help in the motivation.

While Car Magazine calls this a Tesla competitor, I have to disagree; this is a fancier version of the Chevy Volt, a four-door Cadillac ELR done right if you will. The 80 miles of electric range is as much as the BMW i3 offers, and about four times as far as the i8 can go on electrons, but it’s just 30 miles more range than the Volt, for somewhere between $60,000 and $125,000. In terms of price, the BMW may be compared to the Tesla, but if it has a combustion engine, it’s still in a totally different class if you ask me.

Porsche, meanwhile, is ditching combustion engines entirely for its upcoming Pajun electric sedan, and Mercedes is reportedly working on an electric car to compete with the Model S. BMW is reportedly planning to remake the 3-series sedan as plug-in hybrids only, so the i5/7 could be serving as a stepping stone to the eventual electrification of BMW’s best-selling vehicle (by far). But an all-electric BMW, besides the i3, seems to be out of the question for the moment.

But if this report is true, than the i5/i7 is no Tesla competitor, but it’s also not something to be dismissed.