Robert Irlinger, the responsible for BMW’s division dedicated to electric vehicles, has confirmed to British Auto Express that the German manufacturer plans to release an all-electric version of 1 Series sometime in 2021. According to that representative of the Bavarian car make, this date is an "optimistic estimate", but it is very close to becoming a reality. Furthermore, the name for this automobile has been chosen: BMW i1. Already thinking about it, the third generation of 1 Series was projected on the UKL2 platform, with front or integral traction, and the model, unlike the bold BMW «i» models, will basically be the same combustion-powered 1 series, but with electric motor. However, BMW is not planning to stop here. «You will be watching the electrification of our entire catalogue. We can rework front-wheel drive as well as rear-wheel drive platforms and both are able to display all technologies – our customers have the power of choice», Irlinger said. Thus, Robert Irlinger assumes that BMW has a total electrification of the range on its horizon.
