Currently reading: BMW trademarks new car names

Urbanic, Compactive, i, E and other names all filed

BMW has filed trademark registrations for a series of new car names.

According to reports, the names registered include i1, i2, i3, i4, i5, i6, i7, i8, i9 and E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, E7, E8, E9. The M50d, Urbanic, Gran Coupe, Compactive, and Compactive Tourer names were also filed.

Speculation suggests the M50d is a tri-turbo diesel, the Urbanic is a trim level for the Mega City project, the Gran Coupe is a four-door coupe 6-Series, and the Compactive name will be applied to sporty crossovers based on the 1 and 3-series.

The i registrations would then be applied to the Project-i electric city car sub brand that is being planned, while the E denomination is for electric cars, as previewed by the BMW 1-series Concept ActiveE that was at this year's Detroit motor show.

Detroit show: Electric BMW 1-series

Registering a name under trademark does not guarantee it will be used: car companies routinely file names to block competitors from using them.

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