BMW News: Rumorpile: Next-Generation 3-Series To Feature An Electric Only Model

[William Maley]

Within the next year and a half, a new BMW 3-Series will be revealed. There will be gas, diesel, hybrid, and the possibility of an all-electric version.

 

Auto Express reports the German automaker is working on a 3-Series electric that will take on the upcoming Tesla Model 3. The next 3-Series will use BMW's CLAR (Cluster Architecture) which not only brings forth carbon fiber for certain parts of the vehicle, but it was designed with electric vehicles in mind.

 

Auto Express says the model will use a 90 kWh battery capable of delivering a range of 300 miles. Expect to see the 3-Series EV sometime in 2020.

 

Source: Auto Express

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[G. David Felt]

Makes sense, I just hope cadillac also is planning for EV auto's. Hate it when they always play catch up rather than lead. Yes low volume at first but will grow and can lead the way with proper tech.

 

Cadillac should have an EV in each product line.

[smk4565]

What would concern me is an EV car doesn't need to be built like a gas car.  You don't need as large a hood, you have different center of gravity, etc.  Converting a 3-series into an EV probably gets you a compromised EV since the car is first and foremost designed to fit around an inline gas six engine with transmission tunnel.

 

I think Mercedes has a better approach by having a dedicated electric car chassis, that way the car can be designed up to be an EV, and you can do more things with styling and interior space when not worrying about having hard points needed to accommodate an inline six.  Eventually there will be more and more electric cars, in Mercedes case there could even be an Electric E-class and a gas E-class, but on difference chassis, until the day that gas just goes away.  For BMW I think one day they'll have 3-series EV and no gas engine as well, you don't want to throw away the 3-series name brand equity, they need the 3-series name on an Electric car, but I wonder if they get a good car retro fitting batteries and electric motors to the current car.

[G. David Felt]

What would concern me is an EV car doesn't need to be built like a gas car.  You don't need as large a hood, you have different center of gravity, etc.  Converting a 3-series into an EV probably gets you a compromised EV since the car is first and foremost designed to fit around an inline gas six engine with transmission tunnel.

 

I think Mercedes has a better approach by having a dedicated electric car chassis, that way the car can be designed up to be an EV, and you can do more things with styling and interior space when not worrying about having hard points needed to accommodate an inline six.  Eventually there will be more and more electric cars, in Mercedes case there could even be an Electric E-class and a gas E-class, but on difference chassis, until the day that gas just goes away.  For BMW I think one day they'll have 3-series EV and no gas engine as well, you don't want to throw away the 3-series name brand equity, they need the 3-series name on an Electric car, but I wonder if they get a good car retro fitting batteries and electric motors to the current car.

SMK, you jump to saying MB is the best approach to building an EV and yet you clearly DID NOT read the full story. 

 

BMW will have a new platform for this updated 3 series that will cover gas, diesel, plug-in and EVs. This new platform will take a page from their I series with using carbon fiber to reduce weight and improve structural rigidity. 

[Frisky Dingo]

We all saw this coming.

[G. David Felt]

We all saw this coming.

Agreed, if they use the full carbon fiber enclosure on the new 3 series, it should allow them to drop considerable weight and stiffen it up properly for a solid drivers experience.

 

Makes one wonder how long before others decide to finally go with core Carbon Fiber for their unibody auto?

 

GM could sure use this to continue their lead in dropping weight. Imagen what this would do if they used it on their trucks.

[smk4565]

 

What would concern me is an EV car doesn't need to be built like a gas car.  You don't need as large a hood, you have different center of gravity, etc.  Converting a 3-series into an EV probably gets you a compromised EV since the car is first and foremost designed to fit around an inline gas six engine with transmission tunnel.

 

I think Mercedes has a better approach by having a dedicated electric car chassis, that way the car can be designed up to be an EV, and you can do more things with styling and interior space when not worrying about having hard points needed to accommodate an inline six.  Eventually there will be more and more electric cars, in Mercedes case there could even be an Electric E-class and a gas E-class, but on difference chassis, until the day that gas just goes away.  For BMW I think one day they'll have 3-series EV and no gas engine as well, you don't want to throw away the 3-series name brand equity, they need the 3-series name on an Electric car, but I wonder if they get a good car retro fitting batteries and electric motors to the current car.

SMK, you jump to saying MB is the best approach to building an EV and yet you clearly DID NOT read the full story. 

 

BMW will have a new platform for this updated 3 series that will cover gas, diesel, plug-in and EVs. This new platform will take a page from their I series with using carbon fiber to reduce weight and improve structural rigidity. 

 

I did read the whole story.  Why does an EV 3 series need a body and that accommodates an inline six engine and 8 speed transmission?   The anchor points and front end bracing is a lot for a diesel engine.  If you had a chassis designed for an EV, like Tesla does, you get more interior room, better weight distribution, etc.

[G. David Felt]

 

 

What would concern me is an EV car doesn't need to be built like a gas car.  You don't need as large a hood, you have different center of gravity, etc.  Converting a 3-series into an EV probably gets you a compromised EV since the car is first and foremost designed to fit around an inline gas six engine with transmission tunnel.

 

I think Mercedes has a better approach by having a dedicated electric car chassis, that way the car can be designed up to be an EV, and you can do more things with styling and interior space when not worrying about having hard points needed to accommodate an inline six.  Eventually there will be more and more electric cars, in Mercedes case there could even be an Electric E-class and a gas E-class, but on difference chassis, until the day that gas just goes away.  For BMW I think one day they'll have 3-series EV and no gas engine as well, you don't want to throw away the 3-series name brand equity, they need the 3-series name on an Electric car, but I wonder if they get a good car retro fitting batteries and electric motors to the current car.

SMK, you jump to saying MB is the best approach to building an EV and yet you clearly DID NOT read the full story. 

 

BMW will have a new platform for this updated 3 series that will cover gas, diesel, plug-in and EVs. This new platform will take a page from their I series with using carbon fiber to reduce weight and improve structural rigidity. 

 

I did read the whole story.  Why does an EV 3 series need a body and that accommodates an inline six engine and 8 speed transmission?   The anchor points and front end bracing is a lot for a diesel engine.  If you had a chassis designed for an EV, like Tesla does, you get more interior room, better weight distribution, etc.

 

And you just shot yourself in the foot SMK, cause MB is doing just what BMW is doing and yet now your saying this is no good, so then you are admitting that the MB all in one new platform for Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid Plug-in and EV is wrong, MB needs two platforms like what BMW tried to do with the i platform before realizing they could tweak the carbon fiber system to support all formats.

 

Ans how is this wrong again?

[smk4565]

 

 

 

What would concern me is an EV car doesn't need to be built like a gas car.  You don't need as large a hood, you have different center of gravity, etc.  Converting a 3-series into an EV probably gets you a compromised EV since the car is first and foremost designed to fit around an inline gas six engine with transmission tunnel.

 

I think Mercedes has a better approach by having a dedicated electric car chassis, that way the car can be designed up to be an EV, and you can do more things with styling and interior space when not worrying about having hard points needed to accommodate an inline six.  Eventually there will be more and more electric cars, in Mercedes case there could even be an Electric E-class and a gas E-class, but on difference chassis, until the day that gas just goes away.  For BMW I think one day they'll have 3-series EV and no gas engine as well, you don't want to throw away the 3-series name brand equity, they need the 3-series name on an Electric car, but I wonder if they get a good car retro fitting batteries and electric motors to the current car.

SMK, you jump to saying MB is the best approach to building an EV and yet you clearly DID NOT read the full story. 

 

BMW will have a new platform for this updated 3 series that will cover gas, diesel, plug-in and EVs. This new platform will take a page from their I series with using carbon fiber to reduce weight and improve structural rigidity. 

 

I did read the whole story.  Why does an EV 3 series need a body and that accommodates an inline six engine and 8 speed transmission?   The anchor points and front end bracing is a lot for a diesel engine.  If you had a chassis designed for an EV, like Tesla does, you get more interior room, better weight distribution, etc.

 

And you just shot yourself in the foot SMK, cause MB is doing just what BMW is doing and yet now your saying this is no good, so then you are admitting that the MB all in one new platform for Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid Plug-in and EV is wrong, MB needs two platforms like what BMW tried to do with the i platform before realizing they could tweak the carbon fiber system to support all formats.

 

Ans how is this wrong again?

 

How is MB doing what BMW is doing?  Mercedes isn't making pure EV versions of the C-class and E-class.  They have plug in hybrid models planned, that rely on the gas 2.0T motor.   Mercedes is making a new platform that will support 2 electric sedans and 2 electric crossovers, while the current MRA platform supports C-class, E-class, and GLC.  2 separate platforms for the different power source, thus each are purpose built.  BMW wants to cut corners by putting everything on one platform.  

 

The new MRE or EVA platform (whatever they decide to call it) is designed to house battery packs in it, MRA is not, so you get batteries in the trunk and under back seats and in less than ideal places.  Mercedes is spending $8 billion in the next 2 years on plug-ins and EV and green powertrain (i.e. 48 volt system).  Their EVs will take BMW to the woodshed, just as the S-class has done to the 7-series for the past 40 years.

 

BMW would be better served I think turning the i3 platform into a 3-series sedan bodied product and just call it 3-series electric.  Underneath the skin it would share nothing in common with a 328i, but to what the customers see it would be pretty much the same, and thus they would buy it.

 

Edited July 16, 2016 by smk4565

[Suaviloquent]

Okay so now we also have big 3 German Middle Finger time?

 

 

CLAR is a Modular platform and if they use the new fangled battery tech where you can cram batteries in crevices unlike ever before, it'll be pretty nice.

 

Though I don't expect the EV to start at $35,000.

[G. David Felt]

Seems BMW is wanting to hit Tesla on the head for their 3 series out in 2018 and as such have a new commercial about their 330e sedan being here now.

 

 

Pretty funny!

[A Horse With No Name]

On 7/15/2016 at 10:41 AM, Frisky Dingo said:

We all saw this coming.

Ohhhhhhhhh hell yes we did!

[A Horse With No Name]

On 8/15/2016 at 11:41 AM, dfelt said:

Seems BMW is wanting to hit Tesla on the head for their 3 series out in 2018 and as such have a new commercial about their 330e sedan being here now.

 

 

 

Pretty funny!

She is easy on the eyes also!

[G. David Felt]

11 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

She is easy on the eyes also!

Yes, Yes she is!

Plus gotta love the Asian rim models for electric auto's!

[Frisky Dingo]

BMW's ad for the 3e is pathetic in it's desperation, lol.