If there was a lingering doubt as to the market, the success of Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV should have already cleared it. I sincerely hope BMW would not sit still like GM did all these years while it had the technology lead. BMW currently is leading the carbon fiber body tech but the advantage window could slip away rather quickly if you don't pay attention.
In fact I think BMW is in a better position than GM currently to design a 4WD SUV EV. Given the technology in i8, it's apparently relatively easy to reuse a lot of drive train components for a SUV design. i8 reuses i3's electric motor. For a SUV design, it could reuse i3's motor, but 2x, one for front axle and one for rear. It could also reuse i8's 4WD control system, maybe even reuse i3's range extender (the range extender could be okay as long as there is hold mode).
This would be a much more attractive proposal than a modified X5 PHEV.
BMW i3 and i8 are of great interest to me, because the level of technology they demonstrate to the market. The only thing I am concerned is that, after all those investments that the top management are still not committed strategically, that would be a shame while it still has the strategic upper hand. Executed properly BMW could be a first class EV manufacturer together with Tesla within 3 years.
In fact I think BMW is in a better position than GM currently to design a 4WD SUV EV. Given the technology in i8, it's apparently relatively easy to reuse a lot of drive train components for a SUV design. i8 reuses i3's electric motor. For a SUV design, it could reuse i3's motor, but 2x, one for front axle and one for rear. It could also reuse i8's 4WD control system, maybe even reuse i3's range extender (the range extender could be okay as long as there is hold mode).
This would be a much more attractive proposal than a modified X5 PHEV.
BMW i3 and i8 are of great interest to me, because the level of technology they demonstrate to the market. The only thing I am concerned is that, after all those investments that the top management are still not committed strategically, that would be a shame while it still has the strategic upper hand. Executed properly BMW could be a first class EV manufacturer together with Tesla within 3 years.