宝马7轿车在过去数十年间都是以旗舰身份立足市场，但这种格局将很快发生变化，宝马刚刚确认了一款未来旗舰的量产计划。宝马官方表示该车将于2021年亮相并于当年晚些时候在德国南部城市丁戈尔芬的工厂投产，新车名为iNext。据消息人士透露，iNext将会是一款更大的车型，该车将与今年晚些时候发布的捷豹I-Pace尺寸相当。未来获得与其顶级车相配的地位，该车将提供自动驾驶技术，据说将达到3级自动驾驶水平。而且，需要特别指出的是，3级自动驾驶只是开始，后续宝马还会将iNext的自动驾驶系统升级至4级（高度自动化）甚至是5级。按照目前的自动驾驶分级功能来看，达到4级就已经能够基本完全脱离人工操作了，而5级则根本不需要方向盘和油门/刹车踏板的存在。
BMW iNext EV Flagship With Level 3 Autonomy Likely A Crossover
The 7 Series has been the company’s flagship model for decades, but that will change in about four years from now when the iNext will come out with an all-electric powertrain. And while the Vision Next 100 concept unveiled a little over a year ago took the shape of a futuristic sedan, the new range topper from Bavaria will likely be a crossover if we were to rely on the rumor mill.
The official word from BMW right now is that it’s going to be a “larger vehicle” while BMWBLOG has it on good authority it will have just about the same size and shape as the Jaguar I-Pace coming later this year.
In order to make it worthy of its position at the top of the range, BMW has already revealed it will implement self-driving technology allowing the iNext to meet Level 3 requirements.
Interestingly, the iNEXT will up the ante by actually being smart enough to handle Level 4 (High Automation), so it will be able to handle an emergency situation even if the person behind the wheel won’t respond to the request to intervene. Not only that, but the EV will theoretically be capable of meeting the maximum Level 5 (Full Automation), which refers to a self-driving car that doesn’t have a steering wheel.
An official reveal has been confirmed already for 2021 and production will begin later the same year at the Dingolfing in Germany. Meanwhile, the BMW Group will bolster its electrified portfolio by coming out with Mini’s first production EV in 2019 set to be followed a year later by a zero-emissions X3.