2015 BMW i5 sedan

We all knew that BMW’s future i line-up would include the i3 hatchback and the i8 supercar - both electric vehicles - but new spy shots have revealed that the company is also testing a prototype for an i sedan. This newest i model will be launched after the i3 and the i8, so don’t expect to see it on the market until early 2014.

We think the mysterious i sedan will also be an electric model because, well, the other two are, but also because it looks like there are wheel hub motors, electric motors, powering the front wheels. There is also the fact that the both the fenders in the front and back don’t exactly fit and the vehicle is sporting some really narrow tires. All of these quirks lead us to believe that BMW is working on a bigger sedan within the i-family. No other details have been provided, but expect to see an electric engine delivering a little bit more power than in the i3 (rumored to have a 170 HP electric engine).

Guess Tesla and Fisker just got themselves a real competitor.

UPDATE 01/26/2012: According to reports from AutoBild, BMW is developing the i5 midsized MPV as a model that bridges the gap between the compact i3 and the high-end sports car that is the i8.

Details behind the i5 have yet to be revealed, but as a mid-sized MPV, we’re making guess-timates that it’s going to feature a high roof, sliding rear seats, and maybe even a large cargo space. It could also carry an electric motor similar to the i3 while featuring a similar futuristic design language that plays right into the elements of both the i3 and the i8.

The BMW i5 is expected to be introduced in the coming years, possibly as soon as 2015. We don’t know if that’s soon enough for us, but we’re definitely interested to see how the third member of BMW’s "i" family looks and what kind of powertrain it carries.

topspeed.com