BMW's CLAR architecture that debuted in 2015 with the 7 Series, but its limitations would have made adapting it for a fully electric version impossible. In the future, that won't be the case.

"We would have needed to add 800 kg (1,763 lbs) to 900 kg (1,984 lbs) of batteries to offer a BEV variant. This would have killed the architecture, not to mention the sheer driving pleasure we aim to offer with every car we make. We had expected that over a decade battery density could increase by 2.5 times. By 2020, we will be close to 2.7 times," explained Fröhlich.

As a result, the CLAR architecture will be updated in 2021 with a new central floor that can house higher-density batteries. And it will also mean the transformation of an iconic nameplate.

"This will permit our plug-in hybrids to travel 80, 100 to 120 km in full-electric mode as well as allowing us to install a larger fuel tank than we have in our current plug-in hybrids," he said. "Using the updated CLAR also will let us offer BEVs [battery-electric vehicles] on the architecture because our forthcoming i4 is basically a battery-powered 3 series."