Tag Archives: BMW

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BMW’s Electric Charge Is Gaining Momentum — But the 50% Goal Is Still a Mountain to Climb

Back in 2020, BMW’s electric future looked more like a glimmer than a revolution. Only 1.9 percent of the Bavarian automaker’s total deliveries were battery-electric vehicles — a rounding error in the grand scheme of things. Fast-forward to 2024, and that number has surged to 17.4 percent, a nearly tenfold leap in just four years.

And the story’s not done yet.

From January through September 2025, 18 percent of all BMW Group cars sold wore no exhaust pipe at all. That figure includes not only BMW-branded vehicles but also MINI and Rolls-Royce, both of which have been ramping up their own electric ambitions. In total, the trio moved 323,437 fully electric vehicles during the first nine months of the year — a 10 percent jump over 2024’s pace.

BMW’s plug-in hybrids are also quietly pulling their weight. Sales of PHEVs climbed 27.6 percent year-over-year, reaching 146,850 units, or 8.2 percent of total deliveries. Put the two together — EVs and plug-in hybrids — and electrified vehicles now represent 26.2 percent of BMW Group’s global volume. That’s 470,287 cars, an impressive slice for a company that still builds some of the world’s finest inline-sixes and V8s.

The Calm Before the Neue Klasse Storm

Perhaps the most striking part of BMW’s current trajectory is that this growth has come before the real wave of next-generation EVs hits showrooms. The new iX3, the first to properly bridge the gap between BMW’s current-gen electric offerings and its all-new Neue Klasse platform, hasn’t even debuted yet.

Once that happens — and especially when the Neue Klasse sedan and SUV arrive in 2026 — BMW’s electric momentum could kick into overdrive. On the horizon: the i3 sedan, iX4, iX5, and a mid-cycle update for the i7, all slated for launch next year. Prototypes of the next-gen iX1 are already running public-road tests with their full Neue Klasse underpinnings.

BMW’s roadmap for the late 2020s reads like an EV buffet. Expect to see an iX7 flagship SUV, a Touring version of the i3, and even an entry-level model wearing an i1 or i2 badge. A sleek i4 Coupe could also join the lineup, while markets like China are getting long-wheelbase exclusives such as the iX3 LWB and i3 LWB.

The 50% Challenge

For all this progress, BMW’s ultimate goal remains ambitious: more than half of all annual sales to be fully electric by 2030. That’s not impossible, but it’s a tall order. Even with 18 percent of sales already electric, doubling that share within five years will take more than new product — it’ll require strong demand, robust charging infrastructure, and continued affordability in key markets.

BMW, for its part, isn’t exactly underfunded in this transition. The company has poured over €10 billion into Neue Klasse development, a figure CEO Oliver Zipse calls the largest single investment in BMW’s history. With that much cash on the table — and a new generation of EVs set to deliver sharper design, better efficiency, and tech-rich interiors — the brand is clearly betting the house on electric.

Steady, Strategic, and Bavarian

While rivals like Tesla, Mercedes, and Audi have gone full-throttle into electrification, BMW’s approach has been more measured — methodical, even. But if history tells us anything, it’s that BMW tends to play the long game.

The numbers are climbing, the lineup is expanding, and the Neue Klasse era is almost here. The road to 50 percent might be steep, but Bavaria’s EV train has definitely left the station.

Source: BMW

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BMW i4 M60 Powers into the U.S. with More Muscle and Sharper Efficiency

BMW’s electrified M lineup just got a jolt of extra juice. After retiring the i4 M50 from European markets earlier this year, BMW is officially ushering in its successor — the 2026 i4 M60 — for U.S. buyers. Think of it as the same sleek four-door fastback, only now it’s had an extra shot of electricity and attitude.

The new M60 nameplate isn’t just a marketing shuffle. Beneath the skin, BMW has cranked up the twin-motor setup to 510 horsepower, a healthy 41-hp gain over the outgoing M50. Dial it into its most aggressive drive mode, and that figure swells to 593 horsepower, a full 57 hp stronger than before. That’s proper M-car territory, and it shows in the stopwatch: BMW claims 0–60 mph in 3.6 seconds, a time that edges dangerously close to the gas-burning M3 Competition xDrive.

Despite the added punch, BMW didn’t forget about efficiency. With new software tuning and wheel-specific optimization, the M60 on 19-inch wheels now squeezes out 278 miles of range—that’s 11 miles more than before. Go for the larger 20-inch setup, and you’ll still net a modest five-mile improvement, for a total of 232 miles.

Production for the U.S. begins this month, and BMW’s configurator is already live for eager buyers. Pricing kicks off at $71,875, including destination. As a sweetener, BMW throws in two years or 1,000 kWh of complimentary Electrify America charging, which should help offset a few spirited road trips.

The Base i4 Gets Smarter, Too

It’s not just the M60 stealing the spotlight. The 2026 i4 eDrive40 gets meaningful upgrades of its own, thanks to the introduction of silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors, improving power efficiency. Range now stretches to 333 miles on 18-inch wheels, a 15-mile bump, while the 19-inch version manages 307 miles, up by 12. Prices start at $59,075, and all models now come with a Seal & Drive Tire Kit as standard—handy for those who miss the days of a real spare tire.

Optional Flair and Functional Upgrades

Customization remains key in BMW’s playbook. Buyers can now spec optional glass controls for a touch of luxury, while the Shadowline package adds black mirror caps and M Sport brakes with signature blue calipers. Both features can also be ordered à la carte. A new Drive Recorder feature joins the Parking Assistant Professional suite, giving owners a built-in dashcam experience straight from the factory.

A Bridge to the Neue Klasse Future

As for what’s next, the i4’s future looks… transitional. BMW will introduce an all-new i3 sedan next year as part of its forward-looking Neue Klasse platform. The two will coexist briefly, but it’s hard to imagine the i4 lingering much longer once the next-gen EV architecture rolls out.

For now, though, the 2026 BMW i4 M60 stands as a fitting evolution — faster, smarter, and a little more refined — reminding enthusiasts that even in an electrified world, BMW still knows how to engineer excitement.

Source: BMW

News

BMW M Streamlines Its Lineup: Competition Power Becomes the New Normal

If you’ve ever spec’d a BMW M car, chances are you clicked the Competition box. You weren’t alone — Munich says more than 80 percent of M3, M4, M5, M8, and M SUV buyers have done exactly the same. Now, BMW has decided it’s time to stop pretending there’s a choice.

Starting next year, the “standard” M models will effectively be the current Competition versions, both in power and equipment. In other words, the base M3 and M4 will pack the same punch as today’s Competition models, while the Competition badge itself may quietly disappear from the catalog.

Trimming the Fat, Keeping the Muscle

Frank van Meel, the head of BMW’s M division, put it bluntly: producing standard M cars no one buys doesn’t make sense. “If almost all customers go for the Competition, then that becomes the M,” he said recently. It’s a logical move that simplifies production, reduces confusion, and, frankly, gives buyers exactly what they want — maximum performance right out of the gate.

Under this new approach, the base M cars will deliver what used to be Competition-grade performance, while the lineup above will still cater to hardcore track enthusiasts with the return of CS and CSL models. These upper-tier variants will feature lighter weight, sharper handling, and even more power, optimized for closed circuits rather than the morning commute.

Numbers Don’t Lie

To put things in perspective, the current BMW M3 and M4 standard versions use a 3.0-liter inline-six biturbo that sends 480 horsepower to the rear wheels. Step up to the Competition version, and you gain an extra 50 horses plus xDrive all-wheel drive, allowing 0–100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds when equipped with the optional M Driver’s Package. Top speed? A healthy 290 km/h. The rear-drive variants are a shade slower — 3.9 seconds — but no less thrilling.

Now, imagine that level of performance as standard.

What It Means for the M Faithful

For purists, this change doesn’t dilute the M spirit — it reinforces it. BMW isn’t backing away from performance; it’s just cutting out the middle layer. The M badge will mean one thing again: the full-fat, no-compromise experience. Meanwhile, the CS and CSL labels will carry even more weight (or rather, less of it), offering truly track-honed weapons for those who think “standard” 530-horsepower M cars are too tame.

A Leaner, Meaner Future

If Munich delivers on its promise, BMW’s M lineup will be cleaner, clearer, and more potent than ever. The Competition badge might fade, but the competition itself — from Mercedes-AMG, Audi Sport, and even Porsche — should start paying attention.

Because when BMW’s “base” M3 has 530 horsepower and a 3.5-second sprint time, you can’t help but wonder: what on earth will the next CSL be capable of?

Source: BMW