There is more to come from BMW’s i division, with these leaked patent images from Autoguide.com pointing towards a vehicle that is closer to a production unit than a concept. What is likely to be called the BMW i5 appears to have conventional side mirrors here in these images, as opposed to camera units that are increasingly common among concept cars recently.
Also telling is the presence of just one exterior cap – a lack of a fuel filler flap, which indicates that the i5 in these leaked pictures is a fully electric vehicle, unlike the i3 range extender and the i8 sports car, which have internal combustion engines to complement their electric drive motors.
Henrik Wenders, head of product at BMW i, earlier this year revealed to Car and Driver of plans for a model to slot in between the compact urban car and the sports car in the i division line-up, and this is further confirmation of the range expansion.
Here, the i5 is seen to have unified front and rear door handles, possibly for a suicide door configuration a la Rolls-Royce. Up front, the traditional BMW kidney grille is flanked by angular headlamps, with some resemblance to the i8’s. Around the back, some resemblance to the i3 is visible, albeit stretched over the i5’s longer proportions.
As with other i models, the i5 is likely to feature a carbon-fibre structure, utilising the sub-brand’s unique LifeDrive architecture. The BMW i5 is not due until close to the end of the decade, so much of the overall product remains to be seen.
Question is, do you like what you see so far?
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Where is our Proton Iriz EV? I am waiting now 3 years plus after seeing it paraded by Proton.
Now I wonder, did Proton showcase the car to get more money from Mustapha?
That is His-story now. That EV is just for show & U are right. It is to justify to Mustapha that P1 is still relevant.
You have a point there
Waste of money developing Proton EV with LG
Guess after Mustapha gave it a green light for the RM1.5b,
They bungkus the R&D like a murtabak hahaha
Kunta, dont be silly. This bmw i5 was paraded in 2015 and this is just a patent leak, not even production car leak. Its expected to be in production in 2019. Iriz EV still in development for 3years. Just wish them best of luck. Btw, pls dont make a comment without a brain. If that is your best, get someone else to use their brain and u just post the comment. This is to avoid spreading harted / false accusation around made by you.
Rear edge bumper inserts crying feature like in new prius. What a crying shame.
Lol its ‘leaked’
Why not a sedan? Why a bulky MPV-like vehicle?
Wrong question. Question is, why all BMW electric cars look like tapirs (unnecessary 2,3 shades of plastic fenders)? This is so mind boggling. Illuminati? Freemasonry? Perhaps…
Yup such secret body movements are founded in Munich too