With the EV war in full swing and every manufacturer trying to prove their dominance in this small but growing segment, it came as no surprise that there were plenty of EV and future concepts display at the 2017 Frankfurt Auto Show. One such concept was the BMW i Vision Dynamics Concept – a model that previews a production model that will slot between the BMW i3 and BMW i8, and most likely the BMW i5 that we thought for sure was coming to Frankfurt this year. Whether or not this thing is anywhere near being ready for a shift into production remains to be seen, it has a pretty wild exterior design but, as a sedan, it will slot in nicely below the i8. It features a futuristic-like exterior design, along with an all-electric drivetrain.

As of now, details about this specific concept are scant at best. BMW hasn’t even enlightened us with any information about the interior and has given us very little about the drivetrain itself, so this is pretty much a best guess scenario. It’s also one of the 12 promised, pure-electric models that will grace Bimmer’s lineup by 2025 and stand next to another 13 electrified/hybrid vehicles. With that said, it’s time to take a good look at the latest vision concept and see what we might be able to expect from the mysterious and evasive i5 or maybe even an i7 since the i5 could end up being an SUV according to a report back in 2016. So, there are a lot of unknowns here, but that just means we can have fun with it. Let’s get to it.

Continue reading to learn more about the BMW i Vision Dynamics Concept.

2017 BMW i Vision Dynamics Concept

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2017 BMW i Vision Dynamics Concept
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Official video

Exterior

What we have here is one serious failure to communicate. By that, I mean, we have no idea what the hell BMW is doing with its i-division. The i3 stands at the bottom of the line while the hybrid i8 – one of the most misunderstood cars in the world – sits at the top of the lineup. We’ve been expecting an i5 for some time now, and BMW has certainly been playing the waiting game.

We originally expected to see the i5 in Frankfurt, but we still didn’t know what it would be, since some reports have called for the expectation of a sedan and others, the later as of October of 2016, claiming it would be an SUV. Then the doors opened at the 2017 Frankfurt Auto Show, and BMW’s booth was packed with new cars and concepts, one of which was the i Vision Dynamics, another one of those wild and crazy looking concepts that probably won’t contribute much to a production model. Of course, BMW hasn’t come right out and said this concept previews the upcoming i5, but it did say that it what another electric BMW might look like – nice wordplay, Bimmer. Well played.

With that in mind, we’re looking at a concept that is pretty wild and may loosely preview a sedan that could sport an i5 or i7 badge. Up front, it is void of the traditional kidney grilles and instead gets a weird outline of what would be really tall dual grilles on the nose. It features very thin, LED headlights and these thin creases in each corner that could channel some cooling air toward the brakes or battery packs. The lower fascia consists of a wing in each corner as well as a lip in the center of an oddly shaped air dam. The hood is quite muscular, and if you look at it just right, the front end kind of looks like a stoned, but angry fish. It does have decent proportions up front, as the front end isn’t too long or too short, so the low-slung, four-door look works quite well here.

Like all concepts these days, the side profile is void of door handles and side view mirrors (Hey Uncle Sam, can automakers just put these technologies into production already?) The most dominating feature is the unique window frames which somewhat resemble a headless bat with its wings spread. The smaller area between the doors is interesting, but I’m not quite sure how attractive that is yet – I guess I’ll have to wait to see if the look grows on me. The fenders and rear quarters flare out a bit at the bottom to fully enclose the sides of the wheels, and one sharp body line makes up the mid profile. The roof is a glossy black and likely allows for a full view of the sky from the inside, but could also offer a solution for solar charging. Okay, I’m reaching a bit, but a guy can hope, right?

Around back, the taillights are sleek and ribbon-like in nature, protruding from the body just a bit for extra character. The BMW name and Vision Dynamics name is backlit on the rear fascia while the corners mimic that of the front fascia with slightly larger vertical cutouts. Down below, the lower fascia has a lip in each corner that is flanked on the inside by a pair of backlit stripes that reside pretty much where exhaust outlets would go if this was an ICE-powered vehicle. As I’ve mentioned about a few other concepts at this show, this concept has excellent fit and finish for all exterior body panels, leaving seams that are barely noticeable, something that makes it almost look as if the entire shell is one piece. Not bad. It’s still a little futuristic for my taste and I doubt will see much DNA carry over to a production model, but at least this is cool to look at.

BMW i Vision Dynamics Concept vs. BMW i5 Rendering

Interior

Interior from 2015 BMW i8 shown here


Oh… so you were hoping to learn about the interior of this concept were ya? Well, sorry to break your heart, but you’re just out of luck on that one. See, this concept debuted in all its glory and basked in the ambiance that is the Frankfurt Motor Show, but BMW decided to black out the windows and failed to provide even a single picture or description of the inside. For all we know, it could be a bare shell in there or maybe it’s just some outrageous futuristic cabin that BMW doesn’t want to show off yet. Either way, you better wish in one hand and crap in the other to see which fills up first. Not that it matters because I doubt you’ll get your wish, but hey it’s worth a shot.

2015 BMW i8 Interior

2018 BMW i3 Interior


If I had to guess, I’d say that the interior is likely a combination of the i3 and i8 with a futurist twist to them. Big massive screens, a retractable steering wheel, digital displays for all mirrors – you know, the usual conceptual stuff. With that said, the only other big difference between the images above and what could be inside this concept is the rear passenger area that probably has its own supply of touchscreen displays and amenities to keep rear passengers happy. After all, this is a sports sedan, and the BMW badge means you should expect the best, right?

If this does, indeed, lead to a production model –be it an i5, i7, i9, or even an i37 – I would expect to see a lot more of the i8 interior than anything else. It should get the sleek digital displays that will, of course, make use of the best technology available at the time. BMW may decide to go with sportier seats up front and a flat-bottom steering wheel. I wouldn’t expect a shifter since it will be all-electric, so it should have a wide-open center console with a big touchpad controller for the infotainment display. All told, it could be one impressive sports sedan, but we’ll have to wait and see what Bimmer decides to do once the hype about this concept dies down a bit.

Drivetrain

Like the interior, the drivetrain department is also quite a big mystery. Thing like battery size and capacity, charging times and ability, energy recuperation, and even the number of motors remains a complete mystery. But, BMW has given a couple of details as an appetizer to really get our attention. But, there’s a little problem. See, BMW says this is a car that represents a “new level of sporting.” Well, that’s only half correct really if you read between the lines. It can make the 62-mph sprint in four seconds flat, so that’s pretty sporty.

Unfortunately, top speed is said to be “over 120 mph.” That could mean it tops out at 125 mph – not very promising for an electric car that could easily be confused with a sports sedan despite BMW’s “Gran Coupe” terminology. It is said to offer up some 600 km, or 373 miles, of range on a single charge. How long that charge will take is still unknown, but it should put an end to any range anxiety that you may have.

For now, that’s all we’ve got, but we’ll be sure to update you if new information does happen to become available.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, you’re probably leaving this review with more questions than answers. How big is the battery? How long does it take to charge? What’s the real top speed? What does the interior look like? Will it lead to a production model? And, you couldn’t be blamed for wanting to know all of those things. I want to know too, in fact.

Usually, BMW is pretty good about talking itself up and bragging about its concepts, but this time it has left us hanging in the worst way. Not that it’s all bad, mystery can be a good thing, but let’s hope we do find out answers to these questions eventually. And, just to throw this out there, it’s quite possible that BMW could have a prototype of the production model just about ready to show off at the next show, so maybe it didn’t want to give away any hints as to what we can expect yet. After all, leaks have ruined plenty of debuts this year already, so you can’t blame Bimmer too much for wanting to keep some secrecy.

But, what do you all think about this concept? Would it make an awesome production model? Would you consider an all-electric sedan from Bimmer if it’s good for close to 400 miles on a single charge? Does it preview the i5 or maybe an i7 or i9? Let us know what you’re feeling in the comments section below.

References

BMW i5

Read our speculative review on the BMW i5.

BMW i8

Read our full review on the BMW i8.