BMW teases EV future and upcoming models

THE BMW GROUP announced further future plans, financials, and teased new vehicles and technology offerings at its annual conference in Germany this week, with plans to ramp-up BEV and high-end premium model focus.

The Group confirmed it is expecting profitable growth in 2023, despite challenging market conditions, with a strong BEV and next-gen tech focus.

“In 2023, we will take the next big step to fulfil the drivers’ technological needs of our customers around the globe,” said BMW AG chairman of the board of management, Oliver Zipse.

Mr Zipse went on to announce an all-electric 5 Series set to launch this year, with plug-in hybrids to come in 2024.

“Later this year, we will be releasing the latest version of the world’s most successful business sedan on the market: the new BMW 5 Series – including of course the fully-electric i5.

“This will also be followed in 2024 by two plug-in hybrid variants. The official launch is still a few months away.” 

The all-electric i5 will be badged as an M model, he confirmed, following the success of the i4 M50.

“BMW M fans get to experience the perfect harmony of e-mobility and dynamic performance in a very unique way. BMW M reported a record year to mark its 50th anniversary in 2022. The best-selling M model was the fully-electric BMW i4 M50. I think, that speaks for itself. It is another reason why we are also bringing the new BMW i5 onto the market as an M Performance model.”

A new electric 5 Series Touring was also announced, available in 2024, filling the large wagon gap in the BEV market.

In addition to the 5 Series models announced, BMW also shared its plans for the new X2 and all-electric iX2, which will be built in Germany, complementing the existing iX1 SUV.

Mr Zipse confirmed the iX2 will be “launched towards the end of the year”, but didn’t confirm a specific date.

Another focus for the BMW Group is the high-end premium market, with suggested “mid-double-digit percentage” growth for 2023 across models like the new 7 Series, X7, XM and Rolls-Royce model family.

The Group says its high-end offering will be bolstered this year with updates to the X5 and X6 coming.

After first announcing its next generation of Neue Klasse (new class) vehicles at CES in Las Vegas, BMW shared more details about some of technology set to feature in its future-focused models from 2025.

“With the Neue Klasse, we are embarking on a new era of mobility. And, at the same time, taking the company into the next dimension,” said Mr Zipse.

A new head-up display BMW says “blurs the lines between reality and the virtual world” will feature in the first Neue Klasse models. The system has been dubbed BMW Panoramic Vision, set for series production in 2025. 

The Panoramic Vision system is essentially a head-up display that spans the entire width of the windscreen, projecting information for both the driver and occupants.

“The windscreen becomes a single large display with our new BMW Panoramic Vision, opening up completely new possibilities for the design of our vehicles,” said BMW AG member of the board for development, Frank Weber.

“Whether the driver decides themselves which information they want to display in their own field of vision, or that all occupants can see the entire content.

“The revolutionary projection and the significantly more clearly structured cockpit give an impressive new feeling of space and driving. We are taking our proven “eyes on the road (and) hands on the wheel slogan to a new level.”