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BMW To Launch iNext EV Models By 2023

According to an announcement made in Munich last year, BMW is ramping up its production of electric vehicles and plans on bringing them to market sooner than previously announced.

By 2023, BMW will significantly expand its lineup of electrified vehicles and add 25 new options for consumers after sustainable luxury vehicles.

Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming generation of new BMW EV models.

BMW’s New Electric Vehicles Getting Ready for Market

The new vehicles will be part of the BMW i sub-brand, which already includes vehicles like the i3 city car and i8 plug-in hybrid. More than half of the 25 new vehicles will be fully electrified, with many of the others being a hybrid version of existing models. 

Among the vehicles is the BMW iNext, which was announced in 2018, and is currently expected to arrive on the market in 2021. BMW is also expected to roll out the i4, the i3’s successor, sometime that year.

BMW also plans to launch a range of new plug-in electric hybrid versions of the BMW 3 series, 7 series, and X5. The company is also planning a China-exclusive plug-in hybrid version of the X1, as well as new hybrid versions of the 2 series and 5 series. A European and U.S. version of the hybrid X1 is getting ready for production.

Other EVs expected to arrive before 2023 include a fully-electric Mini, manufactured in England, and an electric version of the X3 crossover called the iX3 that is designed for the Chinese market.

BMW Press

The EV Timetable

Previously, the company had planned to have all of these EVs on the market by 2025 at the earliest. Now, however, BMW is accelerating its electric strategy, and plans to have the cars ready by 2023 

The accelerated timetable is based on the success of the company’s current electric and hybrid vehicles, BMW claims it will have doubled its sale of electric vehicles by 2021, compared to its 2019 numbers, and the continued growth of BMW’s EV sales numbers.

The advanced production is also likely in part due to BMW’s new scalable vehicle architecture, which allows the company to swap in a BEV or PHEV powertrain into any vehicle that uses the new architecture.

BMW hasn’t said yet whether or not it will remain committed to further electric vehicle development in the near future — but if current market trends hold, and EVs remain as profitable as they’ve been for BMW, it’s likely that we’ll see even more EVs be announced in the near future.

Businesses across the automotive industry are pivoting to electric, resulting in large-scale production of everything from electric trucks to e-buses — EV market growth suggests that there is definitely room for additional BMW EVs.

BMW Prepping 25 EVs for Launch by 2023

The quicker arrival of the new electric vehicles, which were planned to arrive on the market by 2025, is likely a good sign for those wanting more EVs from BMW. 

The 25 new cars include both hybrids and fully-electric vehicles and demonstrate the flexibility of BMW’s new architecture, which could make developing new EV variant models even easier in the future.

A few of the cars that are planned for launch will be exclusive to the Chinese market, but there’s no reason to believe that they won’t eventually be exported to the US and European markets.

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Should You Buy or Lease Your New BMW?

Whether you’re a veteran BMW owner or about to add your first one to your collection, there’s always one question that comes up when you head to the dealership — should you buy or lease your new BMW? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of both purchasing options so you can make the best decision for you. 

Pros — Buying

If you’re a fan of modifying your daily driver, buying your car means that you can do just that without violating your lease agreement. You can also drive it as much as you like with no mileage restriction. Purchasing instead of leasing — especially with luxury brands like BMW — also gives you the option to acquire equity the longer you own it, which you may be able to borrow against. 

If you have the money or credit to purchase your BMW outright, buying can be a great choice. Plus, it can save you money on insurance, which offers benefits like roadside assistance and auto medical coverage. If you own your BMW for more than three years, your insurance costs tend to drop. 

Cons — Buying

Permanent ownership isn’t for everyone. If you don’t buy your car outright, you’re looking at an extended loan period. Most leases last for 36 months or three years, while purchasing loans often extend 60 months with varying interest rates. These factors mean you could end up paying quite a bit more than what the car is worth. 

It’s also more difficult to upgrade your vehicle to the newest model, so if you absolutely need to have the latest toys in your garage, buying isn’t the best decision. 

Pros — Leasing

Leasing is another option for getting your hands on a new BMW, and it has its own benefits. If you like to upgrade your car every couple of years, leasing gives you that opportunity — you can trade your current ride and switch to a new model at the end of your lease period. The BMW warranty will protect you if something goes wrong or needs maintenance. Most BMW warranties cover all necessary repairs for three years. 

If you’re not planning on keeping a BMW permanently, leasing gives you flexible possibilities for ownership. Without loan interest, you’ll pay less in the long run. 

Cons — Leasing

If you lease, you have limits on what you can do with your vehicle. You can’t make any modifications without violating your agreement, and you’re only allowed to drive a certain number of miles every year. You also need to have excellent credit to qualify. There are often a lot of fees associated with leasing, and if you run into financial hardship, it’s difficult to cancel without a negative strike on your credit. 

Making the Right Choice

Both buying and leasing have their positives and negatives. The right choice for you will depend on numerous variables, from how far you need to drive to what your income looks like. You’ll also need to consider whether you’re looking for a long-term investment or something shorter. Talk to your BMW dealer to see which selection is best for you. 

Racing

BMW M2 CS Racing Now Available for Motorsport Drivers

Fans of the Ultimate Driving Machine will attest that BMW’s boastful motto was born from success at the racetrack. Those early racing BMWs, 20002s and 3.0 CSLs, are remembered today through the M2 CS, Munich’s most compact, track-hardened two-door from the current lineup of driving machines. And now, weekend warriors and professional race teams can source their race cars direct from the BMW factory.

The M2 CS Racing, launched November 6th, is a factory-developed race car competitively priced to compete with like offerings from Porsche, Mercedes, Ford and other competitive marques. For BMW, it’s the newest flag-bearer of their storied past, picking up after the successful M235i racing which was launched in 2014. 

Same Great Look, New Race Flavor

The formula for a car like the CS Racing is fairly straightforward. Strip out the car’s interior to make it light. Harden the suspension to give it track-appropriate sharpness, and add the requisite technology to provide telemetrics and data logging to inform racing strategy. Along the way, BMW has breathed on the already-fast 7-speed dual-clutch transmission to make shifts even more instantaneous and added a mechanical limited-slip differential with dedicated cooling. 

The CS Racing use the same M4-derived S55 straight-six as its roadgoing brethren, however, the engine’s state of tune limits it to between 280 and 365 bhp to comply with the regulations of the various classes where the M2 might compete. An upgrade to deliver 450hp, the output of the current CS road car, is said to be in the works. Those new to racing will be happy to learn that the CS Racing keeps ABS and driver stability aids that will make the car easier to keep on the blacktop when testing the limits of adhesion. 

Where to Watch the M2 CS Racing

Customers waiting anxiously to get their new track toy can expect to take delivery of the CS Racing in 2020. The car completed testing at tracks in Miramas, France and Portimao, Portugal, and has seen track duty in the hands of factory racers Junior Beitske Visser and Jorg Weidinger who campaigned the car in the VLN Endurance Championship Nurburgring series. 

In addition, expect to see the car campaigned in the TC America, Blancpain GT World Challenge and potentially even American Le Mans’ most junior class, GTD where the CS Racing’s (relatively) affordable price might make it attractive to privateer racers on a budget. However, were it to compete in an American Le Mans race the M2 CS would potentially share track time with the big-brother M8 GTE, a 600 horsepower monster that factory-backed teams will field in the same series. 

Where the CS Racing will be a sure success is in the world of club racing where BMW continues to enjoy a strong following. The combination of strong handling dynamics, powerful and tunable boosted six-cylinder engines, and a rapid-fire dual-clutch transmission in a rear-wheel-drive package will never lose the support of purists who grew up driving this type of car and want to continue the experience in a modern BMW coupe.