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BMW iNext coming in 2021 with lots of new tech

BMW has been showing off fanciful visions of the future with concept cars like the appropriately named BMW Vision Next 100 Concept. But the company is also a full-time player in the plugged-in vehicle sales effort, and on that front we learned a little bit more about the next (we think) BMW i vehicle, the i NEXT, which is coming in 2021. Speaking today at BMW's 96th Annual General Meeting in Germany, the Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Harald Kruger, said that the i NEXT will be, "our new innovation driver, with autonomous driving, digital connectivity, intelligent lightweight design, a totally new interior and ultimately bringing the next generation of electro-mobility to the road." Kruger first talked about the i NEXT a few months ago. Okay, granted, that's not a lot of detail, and we would expect a vehicle not due for another five years to have a "totally new interior." But at least it's a little glimpse into the new ways that BMW wants to sell us plug-in vehicles. It's going to update the current line-up with the i3 getting a 50-percent electric range boost and the BMW i8 Roadster in 2018. Kruger said that, when it comes to electric cars, its about more than specs and details: The discussion about e-mobility is an emotional one, but the decisive factor is that we move things forward. I am certain that government measures will prove effective. It is always better to make a decision than to wait – and the purchase incentive will directly benefit customers. There was never any doubt that we would participate. Such a participation by the industry is unique worldwide. After all, the only way to make progress is by manufacturers, customers, lawmakers and society all working together. Related Video: Featured Gallery BMW Vision Next 100 Concept News Source: BMW Green BMW Technology Emerging Technologies Electric Future Vehicles bmw vision bmw inext bmw vision next 100 concept

BMW ups i3 production to 100 units a day to meet demand

To reverse the old Field of Dreams quote, they are coming, so BMW is building them. All indications are that US demand for the BMW i3 plug-in will be larger than initially expected. As a result, the automaker is upping production at its German factor by more than 50 percent in advance of stateside sales, Automotive News says, citing BMW boardmember Harald Krueger. BMW has started making about 100 i3s a day, up from its previous daily rate of about 70 units. So far, BMW, which is expected to begin sales of the i3 in the US later this month, has made about 5,000 i3s. BMW spokesman Dave Buchko confirmed in an e-mail to AutoblogGreen that the company was boosting production of the i3 based not only on US demand but on worldwide demand, but he declined to be specific about BMW's new production rate. BMW started selling the i3 in Europe in November and had racked up a six-month waiting list by early February. Last month, Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the board of management for BMW, estimated that the company would be making a cool 100,000 i3s a year by the end of the decade, and that the global automotive market would support that production level. Check out our First Drive of the i3 here.

BMW 1 Series getting a small nose job

As BMW prepares to launch its new 2 Series lineup, it appears that the current 1 Series is going to get a little attention for itself. Based on these spy photos, the 1 Series hatchback (F20/F21), which is not offered in the US, will be getting a minor facelift in the near future.
From what we can see in these images, the updated 1 Series will definitely be getting a tweaked front end, with most of the attention focusing on the air intakes and grille. Our shooter tells us that it is possible that the headlights may yet be reworked in some way by the time we see this car in production form. It still isn't clear if we'll ever see this bodystyle or the next-gen 1 Series in the US, but our most recent report seems to indicate that the car's fortunes will depend somewhat on how well the Mercedes CLA-Class and Audi A3 sell.