BMW’s Neues Klasse architecture will underpin a range of new products. The iX3 electric SUV debuts this summer, followed by the i3 sometime shortly after. But those are just the first new models. BMW is also preparing an i2, but unlike the current 2 Series lineup, a new rumor suggests this new one will be a four-door sedan.
According to BMWBlog, the i2 will serve as an entry-level model, prioritizing roominess and usability alongside the i1 hatchback, also in development. BMW currently offers three versions of the 2 Series—coupe/convertible, Active Tourer, and Gran Coupe—so pruning the variants to just one body style would be a big change.
This isn’t the first time we have heard about the i2. A report from September 2022 alleged that BMW was preparing to begin i2 production in July 2028, but that might no longer be the case. BMWBlog’s report says the electric i2 won’t go on sale until 2030, which is still five years away. And timelines are always changing behind the scenes.
According to the report, the new i2 is not expected to replace the gas-powered 2 Series coupes. However, the company also supposedly has no plans to launch a successor with an internal combustion engine. That could spell the end of the much loved M2, with its small size and available manual transmission.
When the i2 does go on sale, it’ll utilize BMW’s sixth-generation battery technology. The new packs utilize cylindrical-shaped cells, which the automaker claims can increase range and charging speed by 30 percent while generating fewer emissions during manufacturing. It’ll be rear or all-wheel drive, too, which should keep the fun alive.
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Source: BMWBlog