BMW i5 to be based on 5 Series platform

BMW appears determined to continue the expansion of it’s all-electric “BMW i” line-up. Today, we’re familiar with the urban-centric i3 and the sporty i8, but the adventure is far from over. BMW has been hinting for quite some time that a proper mid-size sedan will join the ranks, tentatively called the i5. 

Today, German publication Autobild reported that the i5 will be a plug-in hybrid. Yes, we’ve seen hybrids in BMW’s line-up before, but the i5 would be the first to offer a plug-in powertrain. 2014’s 5 Series GT eDrive concept will likely serves as the starting point for the new car.

If we follow that thinking, expect BMW engineers to develop a powertrain that includes a 218 horsepower inline-4 gas engine, along with two other electric motors, for a possible total of 640 hp. If that’s the case, then the i5 will be on-par in the power department with the recently-revealed Tesla Model S 70D.

But how big will it be? Autobild is saying that BMW will likely use the a long-wheelbase version of the next-gen 5 Series; we’re not familiar with long wheelbase 5 Series here, but it’s a popular choice in Asian markets, especially China.

Expect the i5 to maintain an imposing profile, perhaps something along the lines of the 6 Series Gran Coupé.

If the way BMW slowly rolled out various concept versions of the i3 and i8 is anything to go by, expect a working i5 concept fairly soon. Production will likely slated for a 2017 release as  2018 model.