BMW will simplify its mannequin designations because it continues to broaden its electrical automobile choices.

The automaker not too long ago confirmed to BMW Weblog that beginning with the next-generation X3 due for a reveal later in Could, particular person mannequin designations for gas-powered fashions will now not carry a lower-case “i.”

The i used to be initially launched within the late Nineteen Sixties on the 2000 tii, to indicate gas injection. However sooner or later, the letter will likely be reserved for BMW’s electrical automobiles.

The present apply for gasoline mannequin designations is to make use of a numerical portion adopted by a lowercase i, reminiscent of 540i within the case of the 5-Collection. Trademark filings that surfaced final 12 months at america Patent and Trademark Workplace trace at what the brand new apply will likely be.

Below the brand new apply, the 540i will merely be a 540. In parallel, a mannequin just like the 5-Collection’ electrical i5 eDrive40 variant will merely be an i540.

Equally, a gas-powered model of the X1 with all-wheel drive could be an X130 xDrive, whereas an electrical model could be an iX130 xDrive. That is in distinction to present format the place the gas-powered X1 makes use of designations reminiscent of X1 xDrive28i and the electrical iX1 makes use of designations reminiscent of iX1 xDrive30. In keeping with BMW Weblog, the present gas-powered X3 M40i will likely be changed by an X3 M50 with the arrival of the next-gen X3.

BMW is not the one automaker making adjustments to naming conventions to accommodate a serious inflow of EVs. Mercedes-Benz is slowly diminishing the importance of its EQ sub-brand for EVs, beginning with the electrical G-Class. As a substitute of calling it an EQG, as had been rumored, Mercedes has gone with the title G 580 with EQ Know-how. Audi has additionally confirmed that it’ll use mannequin names with even numbers for EVs and odd numbers for gas-powered vehicles.