Speaking at the 36th International Vienna Motor Symposium, Klaus Fröhlich, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development said the brand’s new Power eDrive system builds on the eDrive setup used in the i8 supercar and X5 xDrive40e plug-in hybrid.

A test vehicle has already been built, using electric motors at both axles to give high power and four-wheel drive grip, while a supplementary combustion engine cuts in at higher speeds. Fröhlich said this will also enable 80% of a commuter’s annual mileage to be driven electrically, and the vehicle will have a range of around 370 miles from the battery and fuel tank.

The company said late last year that it was aiming to develop high-performance models with CO2 emissions well below 100g/km, using high-powered motors and lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 20kWh – similar to a full EV – to offer a range of 62 miles.

“In the future there will be a variety of drive systems for different requirements,” he said. “Power eDrive combines electric driving fun with the long range of a combustion engine.”