[John Casey]

Keep in mind that the i doesn't specifically mean electric. The i actually stands for innovation. (Unless they are planning to change this too.)

BMW uses i for their hydrogen fleet as well.

https://www.bmw.com/en/automotive-li...ng-system.html

[Professor///M]

I thought the i meant that it was direct injection. I think it’s confusing to put the i. Should have stuck with the e

[DO444]

If they get rid of the Xdrive and just name the cars X instead, I’d be so happy.

Everyone knows it should have always been 340ix. It looks right, we know what the letter mean. Putting badges on each side of the car looks cheap and tacky.

Thinking about taking all the badges off mine except for the one on the grill. Even the competition, I wish it just said m3cx or M3CX.

Or even just M3 is preferred.
Subtle is nice.

They should work a lot harder on prettier designs, less badging and much more effort given to pretty, flowing designs.

I know they design these cars for the Chinese now, and not us… but the Chinese need to get some friggin style.

[ShortSides]

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

I think BMW should start naming its EVs like XFL teams.

The new BMW Battleshark
The new BMW Laserfire
The new BMW Awesome Hawk

What could go wrong?

Lolol

[humisfum]

Originally Posted by DO444

If they get rid of the Xdrive and just name the cars X instead, I’d be so happy.

Everyone knows it should have always been 340ix. It looks right, we know what the letter mean. Putting badges on each side of the car looks cheap and tacky.

Thinking about taking all the badges off mine except for the one on the grill. Even the competition, I wish it just said m3cx or M3CX.

Or even just M3 is preferred.
Subtle is nice.

They should work a lot harder on prettier designs, less badging and much more effort given to pretty, flowing designs.

I know they design these cars for the Chinese now, and not us… but the Chinese need to get some friggin style.

How dare you not like having cheap M badges everywhere on a non M car.

[10"]

iToaster S
iToaster M
iToaster L
iToaster XL
iToaster XXL

you are welcome, BMW!

[J-RO]

I care more about what they look like.

[hufington]

Back in the days when we were cavemen, The two digits at the end of the series designation was telling us the displacement in cc (like 325 was a three series with a 2500 cc engine, etc.). Now, we have 30,40,50, and newly 60.
The more they have meetings in the marketing department in Munich, the more confusing it will get.

[PYE46M3]

once upon a time we had a 3er, 5er, 7er and a couple X cars and a Z

now we have 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 and A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z... rumor has it the X series alone goes from 1-10 as well !

[Tejas1836]

Originally Posted by hufington

Back in the days when we were cavemen, The two digits at the end of the series designation was telling us the displacement in cc (like 325 was a three series with a 2500 cc engine, etc.). Now, we have 30,40,50, and newly 60.
The more they have meetings in the marketing department in Munich, the more confusing it will get.

It's all so tiresome

[Flint Rockbone]

This seems like a step in the right direction. I just wish they would have stuck with the odd-numbers for sedans and even-numbers for coupes. The Grand Coupe thing needs to go.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by emulajavi

They had a very clear system to use (series number+2numbers+letter for engine type), but the did a mess of it when they introduced the ‘“i sub-brand”.

The classic system was great!
330i (gas)
330d (diesel)
330h (hybrid)
330e (electric)

With xi, xd, xh and xe for AWD versions.

They brought the i-something to look modern, to look Apple-ish (iMac, iPhone, etc) but they had a perfect system to use, a system that could have also entirely dropped the letter when all of their cars would be electric.


Now they seem to be changing to this system:

Electric vehicles
SUV: iX+series+2numbers
Non-SUV: i+series+2numbers

Non electric vehicles (same as before)
SUV: X+series+2numbers+engine type
Non-SUV: series+2numbers+engine type


I don’t like the “i” before on the electric vehicles. Just put an “e” at the end and everybody will understand it perfectly, and you’ll have a single naming system instead of two.

Totally agree. Classic system was easy. They’re all getting ahead of themselves, unless they know something that the world doesn’t. There’s no infrastructure or battery supply for this pace of electrification to continue. Having a nice diverse collection of electric and also ICE (even if it’s all PHEV) is much more sustainable for mass use and multi purpose.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by humisfum

Audi made a good decision there. When the 4 series came out I was so confused why they made it like this instead of naming the x3 the 4 series. Was so simple: Make the even numbered series SUVs. I also give zero fudges about the SUV coupes. If I was at BMW I’d immediately cancel the X4 and X6 and then probably the 8 series as well. Im sure it makes them money right now and makes them think they’d lose money if they cancel it but seriously who will refuse a X3/X5 unless they make it with a smaller roof..? If you’re one of these people please please just explain why… I genuinely just want to know what the thought process is there. Because I get it.. sitting higher is a legit preference.. but sitting higher with less rear visibility..? huh?

This is super easy to answer. Because some people think it looks cooler.

I have a friend who’s in his 60’s and he’s pretty tall. I haven’t asked, but I’m confident he picked an X6 because it’s easy for him to enter and exit and because it looks sportier than a X5. He has no kids or pets to haul around. Just his own ass. X6 fit the bill for sporty looks and easy on the knees.

[Teutonic]

Very confusing nomenclature.

i should have stayed as Injection
d as diesel
e as Electric
h as hydrogen

X for the SUV line and that's it.

[Teutonic]

Originally Posted by humisfum

Audi made a good decision there. When the 4 series came out I was so confused why they made it like this instead of naming the x3 the 4 series. Was so simple: Make the even numbered series SUVs. I also give zero fudges about the SUV coupes. If I was at BMW I’d immediately cancel the X4 and X6 and then probably the 8 series as well. Im sure it makes them money right now and makes them think they’d lose money if they cancel it but seriously who will refuse a X3/X5 unless they make it with a smaller roof..? If you’re one of these people please please just explain why… I genuinely just want to know what the thought process is there. Because I get it.. sitting higher is a legit preference.. but sitting higher with less rear visibility..? huh?

Thank God you are not BMW.

X4, X6 and 8 series are my favourite vehicles in terms of design and that fit with my personality. I am DEFINITELY not an X3 or X5 guy. I own and X4 and the whole Coupe concept is actually what made me buy an SUV. X6 was my choice however is too big for my needs.

8 series is just a phenomenal vehicle overall, from its unique niche to the looks and performance. As 6 was. And 6 was one of my top picks.
8 rules pretty much over all of them if you ask me and is my NR.1 pick in BMW line-up. It is sleek, fast and elegant. And looks like a proper BMW.

[ThesaVeliona]

I'm confused. Why fix something that ain't broken? Like what was wrong with X6 sDrive30e? That's not a thing, I know. But what's wrong with that?

[Tallest]

So they flip the i. 340i to i340. Thats my take away, may be i wrong, I glanced through the wall of text.

BMW line up has too many body styles and niches. This will hurt them. There is no need for X1-X2-X3-X4-X5-X6-X7-X8. 4 SUVs are plenty, there is no need for lower end SUV if you still pumping out hatch backs and tourings. Kill the touring 3 and 5, kill the hatchback. SUVs are it.

And i say this as long term sedan buyer and coupe buyer. BMW product line up is not fit for 2020s. Will lose to others. Tesla has a good model line up in terms of shapes of cars on offer. This niche business is great for 2010s and 2000s when everything was cheap and abundant. This is over. Nothing is cheap or abundant, China has taken that vacuum.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

So confusing

I would've preferred a simple 'e' at the end. BMW 330e, 540e, 750e, etc. for electric models

Gas models continue with 'i'

I totally agree, whatever happened to the K.I.S.S. philosophy of doing business?

[humisfum]

Originally Posted by Teutonic

Thank God you are not BMW.

X4, X6 and 8 series are my favourite vehicles in terms of design and that fit with my personality. I am DEFINITELY not an X3 or X5 guy. I own and X4 and the whole Coupe concept is actually what made me buy an SUV. X6 was my choice however is too big for my needs.

8 series is just a phenomenal vehicle overall, from its unique niche to the looks and performance. As 6 was. And 6 was one of my top picks.
8 rules pretty much over all of them if you ask me and is my NR.1 pick in BMW line-up. It is sleek, fast and elegant. And looks like a proper BMW.

I apologize for expressing my opinion. The 6
Series definitely looks good and only I included those three cars specifically and left out the 6. I still would want that around same as the Z cars. The reason I don’t care that much for the coupe SUVs tho is one should get a BMW first most for how it drives. I definitely appreciate how they’ve been able to bring sporty driving to SUVs for those who feel they simply can’t get a sedan, but the X4s however better than other brands SUVs aren’t as good as the sedans just because of physics.

The only legitimate answer as to why the preference I got from previous posts is it looks better to some people and yeah everyone is different. Can’t be annoyed people have different taste, and I won’t treat this like the pineapple on pizza debate. You didn’t say it explicitly in your post but I presume you have the same feeling?

[8MW]

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

I think BMW should start naming its EVs like XFL teams.

The new BMW Battleshark
The new BMW Laserfire
The new BMW Awesome Hawk

What could go wrong?

I take BMW iForkingDope any day!

[kyleb350]

So if I have this addition to the naming convention puzzle down:

• When the "i" is before the number, it's electric
• When the "i" is after the number, it's gas/petrol
• When the X is before the number, it's an electric SUV.
• When the X is after the number, it's an Xdrive car.

[jmxtrem]

i8 iz4 iz3?