BMW Vision iNext Teased With Gigantic Grille

And we mocked the iX3 Concept for having a rodent-like grille.

After showing a few vague sketches, BMW has released a couple of revealing teaser videos for the Vision iNext Concept, which will preview BMW’s answer to the Jaguar I-Pace. We still know very little about the electric crossover concept, but these latest videos give us a better look at the electric crossover before its debut.

The most striking feature is an illuminated version of BMW’s signature kidney grille, which makes the iX3 Concept’s rat-toothed grille look small by comparison. It’s gigantic and doesn’t look very flattering, to put it kindly. The chances of the production model getting the same grille are slim, however, as the design will likely be toned down by the time the electric crossover enters production. Above the grille is a slim pair of headlights that appear to blend into the side windows.

At the back, the concept features extremely thin taillights and what looks like faux diffusers. Previous sketches have shown the concept sporting square wheel arches, a sloping roofline and a short rear end. Overall, the design seems to be inspired by the Vision Dynamics concept unveiled at Frankfurt last year. Slated to go into production in 2021, the production iNext will be fully electric and serve as BMW’s technological flagship. It will be one of 12 electric cars BMW will launch by 2025.

Level 3 self-driving technology will feature, meaning that drivers will be able to take their hands off the steering wheel for extended periods but will still need to be attentive and take over if required. The iNext will also be capable of Level 4 self-driving, but the technology may not be available to the public at first.

It will ride on BMW’s all-new modular architecture, which supports a range of battery sizes. A 60-kWh battery would provide a 280-mile range, while a 120-kWh model would have a 435-mile range. With two electric motors, the BMW iNext will develop 443 hp, but as much as 800 hp could be possible with a third motor. BMW will reveal the Vision iNext concept on September 9.

New BMW 3 Series Teased Before The Big Debut

Can BMW reclaim the crown in the competitive sports sedan segment? We’ll find out next week.

We’re now less than a week away from the world debut of one of BMW’s most important upcoming models: the new G20-generation 3 Series. The Bavarian automaker has officially confirmed the next generation version of its sports sedan will break cover next week at the Paris Motor Show 9.00 am CET on Tuesday, 2 October.

Ahead of its world debut, BMW has released some obligatory teaser images giving us a glimpse at some of the 3 Series’ design details. One noticeable change shown in the photos can be found at the rear, as the signature Hofmeister kink on the C-pillar has a more angular design that may not please BMW purists.

At the front, we get to see the car’s wheel, front fender, and some sections of the side and front fascia. Judging from the M badges, black window trim and M Sport brakes, the car shown in the photos appears to be the BMW M340i, which will act as the range-topping 3 Series until the new M3 arrives next year.

Sources suggest the M340i will use a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder delivering around 360 hp and 370 lb-ft of torque. Both rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission should come as standard, while BMW’s xDrive AWD system is likely to be optional. What hasn’t been confirmed yet is whether or not the M340i will come with a manual transmission.

Despite being larger than its predecessor, the next-generation 3 Series will be 121-pounds lighter thanks to BMW’s CLAR architecture, which uses aluminium, magnesium and high-strength steel. The new BMW 3 Series will need to be something special to stand out from its rivals like the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Audi A4.

We’ll find out next week if BMW can reclaim the crown in the competitive sports sedan segment.

Audi A3 Sedan Teased Ahead of Geneva

Audi has predictably released some first sketches of the A3 Sedan Concept it plans to unveil at the upcoming 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The concept features an aggressive front fascia, distinctive headlights, and a rear end that cuts abruptly. The sedan stands at 14.57 feet long, 6 feet wide and 4.5 feet tall, which places it at roughly the same size as the original A4 that launched in 1994.

The sedan concept will draw its power from a turbocharged five-cylinder engine that produces 402-horsepower and is connected to a seven-speed S tronic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. Beside these bits of information, additional information will be released when the concept is actually unveiled on March 1.