BMW News: Rumorpile: BMW Working On Model S Competitor

[William Maley]

Tesla, the electric car startup in California has put the automotive industry on notice with the Model S. With impressive range and the model stealing sales from luxury makers, automakers are wondering how best to compete with the Model S. Car Magazine learned about what BMW has planned.

Known internally as F18, the new model will utilize a long-wheelbase version of the next-generation 5-Series sedan. The next-generation 5-Series will be one the first models to use a new modular platform known as Cluster Architecture (CLAR) which will underpin models from the 3 to 7-Series. The new architecture will allow F18 - or as Car calls it the i5/i7 - to share many components such as suspension, steering, and brakes from the 5-Series.

Power will come front two electric motors and a four-cylinder engine. Total output is expected to be around 400kw - about 536 horsepower. As for design, the report says it could be a mixture of 6-Series Gran Coupe and the next-generation 7-Series.

Now the model is expected to come out in 2018. This date makes sense as that will be the time when the U.S.' CAFE regulation that 4.5 percent of vehicles sold must be a zero emission vehicle goes into affect.

Source: Car Magazine

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[G. David Felt]

OK, but the motor is more a take on BMW realizing they need to sell against the VOLT than Tesla. Tesla is pure electric no motor as a generator.

 

I believe in my heart that politics aside, GM could easily build a superior Tesla type auto under the Cadillac logo.

[balthazar]

So BMW already shares the platform between the 5 & 7 (stretched), not sure how a "stretched 5-series platform" ISN'T a "7", but OK….

… but now BMW is proposing using the same chassis under the 3, 4, 5, 6, AND 7?? Career General Motors bashers are going to be eating a TON of crow on THIS parts-binning of a (for some) hallowed brand!

 

Not to mention, but………. The current 7-series is the same stylistically as the last 3 or 4 generations, (also; a complete snoozefest), so the next gen is so very likely to be a continuation of the same old, same old.

This has 'dud' written all over it.

[G. David Felt]

Makes ya wonder if they will use the I8 Ugly body on it or what.

[balthazar]

Have only seen 2 i3's so far, but I see Teslas just about daily. An 'i3-ified 7-series' would be a real hoot.

Amazing the company (Tesla) still isn't close to turning a profit- maybe they should constrain their market to NJ. 

[G. David Felt]

Have only seen 2 i3's so far, but I see Teslas just about daily. An 'i3-ified 7-series' would be a real hoot.

Amazing the company (Tesla) still isn't close to turning a profit- maybe they should constrain their market to NJ. 

Heck you see Teslas daily here in Seattle also. I actually am seeing less BMW but about the same MB and a clear increase in Tesla.

[davidj96]

Another amazing car that I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on! This car looks astounding and I think it'll be a true competitor once it comes out in 2018. Does anyone know the MSRP of this vehicle?