BMW iNEXT officially teased during winter testing

- The iNEXT will be part of BMW’s new electric division.

- Expected to be revealed this year.

- Will rival the Mercedes-Benz EQC and Audi E-Tron Quattro.

It’s been more than six months since BMW first showed us the Vision iNEXT Concept. Now, the Bavarian carmaker has commenced cold weather testing with the production-ready all-electric crossover. And the teaser images you see here give us the first glimpse of the upcoming rival to India-bound Mercedes-Benz EQC and Audi e-tron. 

BMW has a winter test centre in Arjeplog, Sweden where the test is being conducted. The German carmaker will be putting the drive, chassis, suspension, and the electric drive through the paces during these tests. The iNEXT will also come fitted with autonomous tech and new age connectivity features. “The flagship of the BMW Group integrates the key future topics of automated driving, connectivity, electrification and services (ACES)”, says BMW.

The same size as the new-gen X5, the iNEXT sits on a radically new platform specially developed for electric vehicles under the BMW Group. There are two such platforms – front-wheel-drive and rear- and all-wheel-drive – of which the iNEXT is based on the latter. Although the concept was very futuristic, to begin with, the cladded prototype now seems to have adopted the new BMW family styling. The suicidal-doors of the concept have been replaced by conventional ones, and the upright fascia seems to be similar to the X7. The flat roof and raked D-pillar lends the iNEXT a proper SUV stance. A conventional set of wheels are seen as well. What's more, the cabin will be the most advanced setup ever fitted in a BMW. 

The high voltage battery pack powers four motors on each wheel and will have a range of around 600 kilometres, according to the reports. Quick charging will also be available with more than one option in battery packs. 

The series production version of the BMW iNEXT will be manufactured at the carmaker's Dingolfing facility from 2021. When it arrives, the iNEXT will be slotted into the new niche electric crossover segment which will be populated by the likes of Tesla Model X, Jaguar I-Pace, Audi E-Tron Quattro, Mercedes-Benz EQC, Hyundai Nexo EV and future vehicles based on Skoda Vision E Concept and Mini Electric. An India debut is likely to happen in 2022.