A design patent for an unnamed vehicle has been filed by BMW in Japan. The car shares design language with the i3 and i8, which leads us to believe that these drawings show the upcoming i5.
Unearthed on the Japan Platform for Patent Information (J-Plat Pat), the computer renderings depict a four-door hatchback that appears significantly larger than the current i3. In front, we can pick out many i brand styling cues, including the squished dual kidney grilles and sleek headlights. Moving down the body we also see the signature floating C-pillar and an i3-like rear end. The car also features a large hood vent and lacks a B-pillar. The placement of the door handles even suggests a rear-hinged suicide door layout, which makes us wonder if this is a production model or a concept.
The document shows that the patent was filed on April 25 by “Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft,” or BMW AG. The filing also shows that the country of priority is Germany. Because it’s a design patent, no details are given about the car’s powertrain. However, we’ve heard that the i5 will be a pure electric model and use a new in-floor flat battery architecture called FSAR. The car is slated to arrive in 2020, around the same time as Volkswagen’s electric I.D. hatch and the four new EVs promised by Mercedes-Benz, which just announced its answer to the i electric sub-brand, EQ.
Source: J-Plat Pat
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