BMW is planning on expanding its electrified lineup with the launch of the iX3 electric SUV in 2020, which will be the first of several new electric models that the brand is working on. With the arrival of 11 new electric vehicles, what does that mean for the i3 and i8? Well according to a new report, both models could disappear after their current production run.
BMW recently trademarked a plethora of names for its new electric cars and SUVs with names ranging from i1, i2, i3, i4, i5, i6, i7, i8 and i9 for its electric cars and iX1, iX2, iX3, iX4, iX5, iX6, iX7, iX8 and iX9 for its electric SUVs. With the expansion of its new electrified lineup, bespoke models, like the i3 and i8 could be done. Replacements for both models are currently not planned.
“We’re still deciding [about] the i8,” BMW i boss Robert Irlinger recently told Autocar. “We see a market for new kinds of sports cars. Whatever it’s called, or if it’s a new kind of sports car, is still in discussion.”
BMW i design boss Domagoj Dukec also stated, “With new i3 and i8, I don’t know; for now, we don’t think about it. For i, there won’t always be an i3, then an i3 after – i is not a parallel universe of BMW.”
Source: Autocar
