Many manufacturers within the automobile global have had rather distinct adjustments in design in the case of electrified merchandise, to the purpose the place some manufacturers do devoted designs for his or her all-electric fashions. BMW isn’t taking this means.

Talking with CarExpert on the world release of the i5 and i7 M70 in Portugal, head of BMW Design, Domagoj Dukec, mentioned the logo’s shoppers want to make a choice from powertrains with out converting type strains or standard shape elements.

“To this point we’re doing choices just like the i7 and i5 – it’s the similar automotive [as the 7 Series and 5 Series],” Mr Dukec mentioned.

“That’s our technique, it doesn’t trade the rest. We consider the buyer, whether or not they’re using electrical or the usage of a combustion engine is extra of an infrastructure matter or what governments give a boost to; however the revel in you are expecting from a BMW isn’t converting, as a result of possibly a buyer says ‘I love my X3, I want it existed [as a] absolutely electrical automobile – however please don’t make it other.

“Different manufacturers, or iX it’s good to say seems to be other, i3 seems to be other, however that was once as a result of those automobiles had a actually other function: they had been in reality making an attempt to succeed in utterly new shoppers that have been no longer enthusiastic about BMW in any respect. Individuals who mentioned BMW isn’t however [with] i3, they got here.

“[The] iX additionally, was once no longer on the subject of electrification – it was once the entirety like new idea of all our technological options which at the moment are within the i7. It was once like the long run, an excessively visionary automotive to speak about how mobility will trade the internal turns into extra vital and so forth.”

Talking at the upcoming vary of goods in accordance with BMW’s next-gen Neue Klasse platform, Mr Dukec mentioned that whilst the unique Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse idea from this 12 months’s Munich mobility display will spawn a manufacturing electrical automobile, the core vary will proceed at the present trail of designs that cater to all powertrain varieties.

The mildew-breaking designs might be left to devoted i-branded merchandise just like the iX.

“The i, and that i as a model – as we’ve got M as a sub-brand – it stands for ‘incubator’, ‘inventions’. With i it’s good to at all times check out issues and display that we’re at all times coping with demanding situations of the long run, which generally is a chance for BMW,” mentioned Mr Dukec.

“[Vision Neue Klasse] isn’t that, it’s actually the core model. This isn’t one product – within the portfolio of latest fashions which might be [based on] Neue Klasse, ‘Neue Klasse’ gained’t also be the title of those automobiles.”

“It’s one thing the place we alter the entire means and building, additionally how we means our shoppers, the entire revel in of [the vehicle’s] lifetime, the configurator, how you purchase it, the way you care for it, the way you at all times stay it contemporary, how you are making it sustainable, how you are making it permitted by way of society – that is Neue Klasse.

“This isn’t just a platform, this isn’t handiest electrified automobiles, this can also be for combustion engines. So the entire thing is related for combustion engines – combustion engines will also be environment friendly – and in some areas the place you don’t have any charging spots, why will have to they no longer revel in the sustainability revel in of positive issues that are related.”

Mr Dukec then spoke to the unified means when designing automobiles that may be offering combustion, hybrid and battery electrical drivetrains, explaining that aerodynamics is a very powerful to potency around the board.

“Particularly whilst you pressure sooner, from all powertrains you have got a CO2 prohibit which as a model your entire fleet will have to no longer exceed. Electrical automobiles are calculated with 0 (g/km of CO2), however the entire others the CO2 emissions is calculated by way of your intake,” Mr Dukec mentioned.

“It makes a large distinction in case your aerodynamic coefficient is dangerous. So this is identical for each and automobiles at some point. [For example] i5, you must put the electrified powertrain into the similar form because the combustion engine, so you must ensure this form is enough.”

Throughout the present vary, the BMW iX is the one electrical automobile from the logo’s strong that isn’t in accordance with an present type line with combustion or hybrid energy. The iX1 and iX3 are electrical variations of the X1 and X3 SUVs, the i4 is in accordance with the 4 Collection Gran Coupe, the i5 is just about just like the brand new 5 Collection, and the i7 is an electrical 7 Collection.

Whilst the Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse idea is predicted to spawn an all-electric manufacturing type, the next-generation BMW structure of the similar title will underpin the successors of the core type vary – 3 Collection via to X7 – and proceed to provide combustion engines with mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid tech, together with electrical drivetrains.

A lot of corporate executives have mentioned at the document that the developments of the Neue Klasse platform – no longer simply restricted to design, chassis and drivetrain, but additionally manufacturing strategies and provide chain – are so vital that it’s as though BMW has skipped a type technology.

Are you aligned with BMW’s technique round design? Tell us your ideas within the feedback!

MORE: The whole thing BMW