BMW has recently trademarked all iX1 to iX9 badges, hinting at an imminent wave of all-electric crossovers that are to be based on regular BMW X models. According to Auto Express, the X3 is currently the only one that’s confirmed to go fully electric in 2020.
Unlike the bespoke i3, the iX series of cars won’t be made from scratch, which translates to huge savings in R&D money. This strategy differs from rivals Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar, whose fully-electric portfolios are comprised of complete stand-alone models, such as the e-tron SUV, EQ C and I-Pace. That said, BMW’s electric SUVs will remain under the purview of BMW i.
Besides the company’s high-riding foray, BMW i is also working on a production version of the Vision Dynamic Concept, which will purportedly be christened with the i5 badge. Positioned between the i3 and i8, the sedan-bodied model boasts a pure electric range of 600 km and is able to sprint from zero to 100 km/h in four seconds.
Back home, electrified BMWs have been a huge hit among buyers recently, with the plug-in hybrid 330e, X5 xDrive40e and 740Le xDrive accounting for 50% of BMW Malaysia’s total sales from January to October 2017. That makes Malaysia the leading market in ASEAN and the fifth largest hybrid market in the world for the Bavarian company. Malaysia is also the second largest market in the world for the X5 xDrive40e.
GALLERY: G01 BMW X3
