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BMW could expand 'i' lineup

Well, this isn't exactly a surprise. BMW CEO Harald Krueger (shown above) has hinted that the i3 electric car and the i8 plug-in supercar could soon be blessed with a bouncing brother, perhaps in the form of the oft-rumored i5. Specifically, Krueger told Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (as reported by Automotive News) that there was certainly room in the middle of the i sub-brand's current two-model lineup "from the number point of view." The exec declined to offer any additional information. Unlike the i3 and i8, which are their own unique products independent of the rest of the BMW range, the i5 will allegedly be based on 5 Series sedan. It would also eschew the all-electric approach of the i3 in favor of a new and different version of the plug-in hybrid powertrain used in the i8. Rather than that car's turbocharged, three-cylinder gas engine, 129-horsepower electric motor, and 357 total system hp, the rumored i5 – according to our most recent report – would be significantly more powerful. There are rumblings that the new model would have anywhere from 544 hp to 640 hp, with at least two electric motors (one on each axle, making it effectively all-wheel drive). On top of the high performance, the i5 will have no issue running on EV power. According to one report, there'd be up to 78 miles of electric range, and would run purely on electricity up to 36 miles per hour. Even then, the gas engine would only join the party when under hard throttle. What do you think? Will BMW come out with a four-door PHV that could potentially outrun the current M5? Have your say in Comments. Related Video:

BMW working on DCT for its FWD cars?

Having introduced its first front-wheel drive products, a report in BMW Blog says that BMW is developing a dual-clutch transmission to use in some of those vehicles. If that is the case then BMW would be catching up to its competitors, with Mercedes-Benz using its 7G-DCT in models like the CLA, and Audi putting its six-speed S-tronic in the A3 and seven-speed S tronic in the A6. Acura and Hyundai use dual-clutch gearboxes in their model lineup as well. Right now the only self-shifting option in the front-wheel-drive-based BMW X1 is an Aisin-sourced eight-speed automatic, the one we described as "perfectly fine but not a standout" that requires "some prodding to coax a downshift." The eight-speed sport transmission will be an option in late 2016, but its paddle shifters and quicker gearchanges still won't be equal to a DCT. That latter possibility would give BMW a sportier avenue of development if it did wish to create something truly athletic out of the X1 – BMW Blog muses on an X1 M40i or an X1 M (you should be past the point of shock if this happens). The Mini range could also benefit, the JCW trims currently fitted with a six-speed sport automatic being obvious candidates. Assuming Munich engineers are on the case, it is predicted that we won't see this transmission for at least two years.

VW Golf R, Ram Power Wagon and Subaru Forester | Autoblog Podcast #591

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski and Road Test Editor Reese Counts. After some talk about sponges and other randomly received oddities, this episode is all about the cars we've been driving, including the new Subaru Forester, VW Golf R (which is going on hiatus), BMW M340i xDrive and Ram Power Wagon. Then, they take to the mailbag to help a listener pick a sporty new car in the "Spend My Money" segment. Autoblog Podcast #591 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Sponges, really? 2019 Subaru Forester Sport 2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2020 BMW M340i xDrive 2019 Ram 2500 Power Wagon Spend My Money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video: