BMW pins '22 for BEV parade

Starting in early 2022, BMW will launch an electric vehicle offensive with a pair of next-generation models.

It's a sign of things to come as BMW and its luxury rivals race to meet tightening emissions standards in Europe and China. About a quarter of BMW sales in the U.S. will be EVs by 2026, according to the automaker. BMW expects its U.S. EV deliveries to grow on average by 50 percent a year through 2025.

"We believe customers are going in this direction," said outgoing BMW of North America CEO Bernhard Kuhnt. "We believe 2022 is the perfect time frame to launch" battery-electric vehicles.

The new EVs will kick off a busy 2022. BMW plans redesigns of its top-of-the-line 7 Series sedan and X1 crossover.

2 Series: BMW introduced a new all-wheel-drive, four-door 2 Series Gran Coupe last year. A front-wheel-drive 228i Gran Coupe joined the lineup in early 2021. The 228i and 228i xDrive models are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 228 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque. The higher-performance M235i xDrive Gran Coupe is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 301 hp and 331 pound-feet of torque. The 2 Series Gran Coupe is built on the same platform that underpins the Mini Clubman and Countryman. It could be freshened in 2023.

A limited edition one year-only M2 with more power and performance arrived in the fourth quarter of last year, with a 444-hp M2 CS powered by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder twin-turbo engine. The cabin blends racetrack-inspired design with weight-saving technology.

The two-door 2 Series Coupe receives a redesign this fall. It could be freshened in 2024.

3 Series: A redesigned 3 Series plug-in hybrid arrived last summer. It has a more powerful four-cylinder engine and a larger battery for greater range. The high-performance M3 received a redesign in March. The four-door, rear-wheel-drive, manual transmission-equipped M3 is powered with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six delivering 473 hp.

The 3 Series is set to be freshened in the first half of 2023.

i3: A replacement for BMW's first battery-electric car is not planned. U.S. sales of the i3 began in 2014, and production of the subcompact for the U.S. ended in July.

4 Series: Both the coupe and convertible were redesigned in the past year, and the six-cylinder engine variant received a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. A freshen could follow in the second half 2024.

The four-door Gran Coupe gets a redesign this month that includes beefier engines and improvements in aerodynamics.

A redesigned 503-hp M4 Competition Convertible with xDrive awd arrives this fall.

Z4: A redesigned Z4 arrived in 2019. It should get a freshening in the fourth quarter of 2022.

i4: The sporty four-door EV will launch in the first quarter of 2022. It's based on the 4 Series Gran Coupe and combines the comfort of a four-door car with the practicality of a large tailgate. Powered by an 83.9-kilowatt-hour battery, the i4 eDrive40 delivers up to 335 hp and up to 300 miles of range. The 2022 BMW i4 M50 delivers 536 hp and up to 240 miles of range.

5 Series: The midsize sedan received a freshening last summer, and the six-cylinder engine variant got a 48-volt mild-hybrid system.

The M version received an update that included new front and rear styling and a larger 12.3-inch touch screen information display. An all-electric version could arrive in 2023. A full redesign of the 5 Series is expected in the second half of 2023.

7 Series: The large luxury sedan will be redesigned in late 2022. The next generation will continue to be based on the Cluster Architecture platform. It will be available with different drive technologies: a gasoline engine with 48-volt technology, a plug-in hybrid and, for the first time, a battery-electric model.

8 Series: BMW broadened its flagship model range with the 8 Series Gran Coupe in 2019. The rwd 840i and awd 840i xDrive variants are powered by BMW's turbo 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine.

A new M8 Gran Coupe arrived early last year, riding 9.1 inches longer, 1.4 inches wider and 2.3 inches taller and with a 7.9-inch-larger wheelbase over the M8 Coupe.

The 8 Series and Gran Coupe models should receive a redesign in second half 2025.

X1: The small crossover is slated for a redesign in the fourth quarter of 2022. It will remain on the current fwd platform.

X2: A freshening of the sporty X2 is expected in the second half of 2022.

X3: BMW's bestselling model receives a freshening this year to evoke more of an off-road and sporty appearance. The compact crossover receives BMW's new larger kidney grille design, while front and rear bumpers, exhaust trim and rear lights are updated.

The X3's powertrain lineup will be simplified for 2022. The X3 xDrive30e plug-in hybrid has been dropped in the U.S., leaving just the four-cylinder sDrive30i and xDrive30i and the six-cylinder M40i trim in the lineup. The M40i receives a mild-hybrid system that draws an extra 11 hp.

The X3 M variant delivers 473 hp. A Competition version dials it up to 503 hp. A redesign is expected in late 2024.

iX3: BMW previously put off plans to bring its first electric crossover to the U.S., reportedly because of inadequate range and the lack of awd. But the BEV's second generation could arrive here as early as 2024.

X4: The compact crossover will receive a freshening this summer that delivers enhancements in exterior design and drivetrain.

The X4 xDrive30i is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that delivers 248 hp. The X4 M40i sports a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that puts out 382 hp. The X4 M variant delivers 473 hp, and a Competition version boosts it to 503 hp.

X5: A redesigned plug-in hybrid version of the midsize crossover arrived last summer. That model is powered by a turbo inline-six coupled with an electric motor. The X5 is due for a freshening in early 2023.

iX: The new X5-sized battery-electric crossover will arrive early next year. The 2022 iX features BMW's fifth-generation battery design, powered by a 111.5-kWh battery that delivers 516 hp and an estimated 300 miles of driving range.

X6: The X6 M was redesigned and received additional horsepower in 2019. The X6 should get a freshening in late 2023.

X7: BMW's large crossover arrived in 2019 with three-row seating for seven passengers. An Alpina version, powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 that delivers 612 hp, arrived last September.

A freshening of the X7 that will bring a face-lift and technology updates is expected next year.

X8: A new two-row crossover is expected to begin production in Spartanburg, S.C., in late 2022, with deliveries likely to begin in early 2023, according to AutoForecast Solutions. It has been described as a sporty version of the X7 and will carry over the turbocharged V-8 and inline-six engines.