---
title: "BMW Reportedly Cancels i5 to Focus on Electrifying Other Vehicles"
description: "The brand's intermediary product between the i3 and i8 has reportedly been put in the dirt."
date: "2017-05-24"
modified: "2017-05-24"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/10628/bmw-reportedly-cancels-i5-to-focus-on-electrifying-other-vehicles"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "3 Series"
  - "4 Series"
  - "BMW"
  - "Electric Cars"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "i3"
  - "i8"
  - "X3"
---

# BMW Reportedly Cancels i5 to Focus on Electrifying Other Vehicles

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/05/x3.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

BMW specialist news outlet [*BMW Blog*](<https://www.bmwblog.com>) has reported that the planned mid-level product from BMW's i Division, the i5, is [dead in the water](<https://www.bmwblog.com/2017/05/23/bmw-cancels-their-i5-electric-car-plans/>). As of April, it was [believed](<https://www.bmwblog.com/2017/03/24/next-bmw-i5-to-look-more-like-regular-bmws-than-the-i3-and-i8/>) that the i5 would arrive as either a fully electric or hydrogen-powered crossover or sedan, though BMW remained secretive over the alleged vehicle in development.

One potential reason for the i5's cancellation is a lack of potential platform modularity—meaning it would be difficult to use the basic structure for other models to bring down costs. The existing i Division cars—the i3 and i8—use proprietary platforms, which are incapable of being adapted for other mass-market vehicles.

Instead, the Bavarian automaker is alleged to be diverting resources from the i5 project into design groups working to make electric variants of the X3 crossover and 4 Series Gran Coupe. The 4 Series Gran Coupe model will be renamed the 4 Series GT, according to [*Autocar*](<https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/bmw-4-series-gt-electric-key-firms-future-plans>), and is one of several new vehicles being planned for construction on the next-generation 3 Series platform, with the electric 4 Series GT reportedly headed to production in 2020.

The electric variant of the X3, to be known as the X3 eDrive, is reportedly slated for a [2018 release](<https://www.bmwblog.com/2016/10/17/new-bmw-x3-edrive-scheduled-arrive-late-2018/>). It will be a plug-in hybrid with a price closer to that of the 330e, rather than the expensive 740e or X5 xDrive40e, the latter of which may have the most jargon-filled name BMW has ever put on a vehicle.

## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)