“For me, two things are certain: premium is future proof. And the BMW Group is future proof.” This is how Harald Krüger, BMW's CEO, begins a statement on the future of the German group, which includes BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce.
We had already referred to the BMW flurry which are expected to arrive in the coming years, in a total of 40 models, between revisions and new models — a process that began with the current 5 Series. Since then, BMW has already revised the 1 Series, 2 Series Coupé and Cabrio, 4 Series and the i3 — which gained a more powerful variant, the i3s. It also introduced the new Gran Turismo 6 Series, the new X3, and soon the X2 will be added to the range.
The Mini saw a new Countryman arrive, including a PHEV version, and already anticipated through a concept the future Mini 100% electric. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce has already introduced its new flagship, the Phantom VIII, which will arrive early next year. And even on two wheels, BMW Motorrad, between new and revised, has already presented 14 models.
Phase II in 2018
Next year marks the start of Phase II of the German group's offensive, where we will see a strong commitment to luxury. This commitment to the higher segments is justified by the need to recover and even increase the group's profitability and increase profits, which will serve to finance the development of new technologies. Namely, the electrification of the range and the addition of new 100% electric models, as well as autonomous driving.It will be in 2018 that we will meet the aforementioned Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII, the BMW i8 Roadster, the 8 Series and M8 and the X7. On two wheels, this bet on the higher segments can be seen at the launch of the K1600 Grand America
Continuous bet on SUVs
Inevitably, in order to grow, SUVs are a necessity these days. It's not that BMW is underserved — the “Xs” currently represent a third of sales, and more than 5.5 million SUVs, or SAV (Sport Activity Vehicle) in the brand's language, have been sold since launch of the first “X” in 1999, the X5.
As we've already mentioned, the X2 and X7 arrive in 2018, the new X3 will already be present in all markets, and a new X4 is also not far to be known.
A dozen trams by 2025
BMW was one of the pioneers in introducing mass-produced electric vehicles and most of its range has electrified versions (plug-in hybrids). According to the brand's data, currently around 200,000 electrified BMWs circulate on the streets, 90,000 of which are BMW i3.
Despite the appeal of cars like the i3 and i8, their complex and costly construction — a carbon fiber frame resting on an aluminum chassis — dictated a change in plans to improve profitability. Virtually all of the brand's future 100% electric models will derive from the two main architectures currently used in the group: UKL for front-wheel drive models, and CLAR for rear-wheel drive models.
However, we still have to wait until 2021 to see the next model of the “i” sub-brand. It will be in this year that we will get to know what is now known as iNext, which in addition to being electric, will invest heavily in autonomous driving.
But 11 more 100% electric models are planned until 2025, complemented with the launch of 14 new plug-in hybrids. The first will be known before iNext and is the production version of the Mini Electric Concept that arrives in 2019.
In 2020 it will be the turn of the iX3, the 100% electric version of the X3. It should be noted that BMW has recently secured exclusive rights for the iX1 to iX9 designations, so it is to be expected that more electric SUVs are on the way.
Among the planned models, expect a successor to the i3, i8 and the production version of the concept i Vision Dynamics, presented at the last Frankfurt Motor Show, which could well be the successor to the 4 Series Gran Coupé.
40 Autonomous BMW 7 Series by the end of this year
According to Harald Krüger, autonomous driving is synonymous with premium and safety. More than electric mobility, autonomous driving will be the real disruptive factor in the automobile industry. And BMW wants to be at the forefront.
Currently there are already a number of BMWs with partially automated systems. It is to be expected that in the coming years they will be extended to the entire range of the brand. But it will be a while before we get to the point where we have fully autonomous vehicles. BMW already has test vehicles all over the world, to which will be added a fleet of 40 BMW 7 Series, which will be distributed in Munich, the state of California and Israel.