BMW has confirmed pricing and specification for its new all-electric i4, which will go on sale later this year.
Due for launch in the UK in November 2021, the i4 is the first all-electric premium car from the BMW Group aimed at the traditional core of the midsize segment.
The BMW i4 will be available in three different model variants from launch, including the first ever BMW M car with an all-electric drivetrain. The BMW i4 M50 is a performance model from BMW M GmbH delivering extreme driving enjoyment, bringing the classic M formula of agility, dynamism and precision to the world of electric mobility.
Equipped with electric motors at both the front and rear axle with a combined maximum output of 544hp and M-specific chassis technology, it promises exceptional performance while achieving a range of up to 316 miles WLTP.
Alternatively, in the BMW i4 eDrive40 Sport, a 340hp electric motor teams up with rear-wheel drive to enable locally emission-free driving with plenty of sporting flair. It has a WLTP-calculated range of up to 367 miles.
The BMW i4 enhances its usability further still with flexible charging options. Notably, its Combined Charging Unit allows use of DC high-power charging stations with an output of up to 200kW. Range of up to 102 miles (BMW i4 eDrive40) and 87 miles (BMW i4 M50) can be delivered within a 10-minute charging stop at stations of this kind.
The BMW i4 eDrive40 Sport will have a starting price of £51,905. Meanwhile, the top of the range i4 M50 will cost £63,905.
The new BMW Operating System 8 will help give the BMW i4 all the tools needed to serve as an intelligent and proactive partner in any situation. The intuitive, multimodal operation will become a dialogue between the user and their car that will seek to tailor all the functions controlled via BMW iDrive precisely to the driver’s needs and preferences.
In order to make the M trim extra spicy for the driver, the BMW i4 M50 will boast a bespoke adaptive M suspension with individually configured springs and dampers, specially designed anti-roll bars and an additional spring strut tower brace in the front end, along with variable sport steering, M Sport brakes and M light-alloy wheels up to 20 inches in diameter with mixed-size tyres.
The BMW i4 M50 – the first ever fully-electric BMW M model – is powered by a 190kW electric motor at the front axle and a 230kW version at the rear, which combine to produce the 544hp total.
The electric all-wheel drive reacts with extreme sensitivity to the speed of the wheels at each axle. If necessary, it can optimise traction and handling stability by adjusting the drive torque accordingly, without the traction control even having to intervene.
The fully variable system can choose exactly the right form of power transmission for the full range of requirements, from highly efficient pure rear-wheel drive through to an all-wheel-drive setup that maximises traction. Normally, power is relayed solely to the rear wheels of the BMW i4 M50 to increase its efficiency and range.
Activating the Sport Boost function enables the BMW i4 M50 to race from 0 to 62mph in 3.9 seconds. The Sport Boost effect can also be triggered several times in succession if the high-voltage battery has sufficient charge. The BMW i4 M50 has an electronically governed top speed of 140mph. However, as WhichEV previously reported this BMW will be much more than just acceleration.
Also, when interacting with the new BMW iDrive, BMW i4 customers will benefit from increasing personalisation of the user experience based on their BMW ID. This is used to securely store even more personalised settings and to transfer them between vehicles. A PIN code can be created, or the BMW ID can be associated with a particular key to prevent other users of the vehicle from accessing personal data.
The interior of the purely electric gran coupé comes as standard with a very slim and low instrument panel, which provides the perfect stage for the latest version of the fully digital display grouping. The innovative BMW Curved Display brings the information display behind the steering wheel and the control display of the BMW iDrive control/operation system together, into a frameless, single-piece glass surface angled towards the driver. The 12.3-inch information display and 14.9-inch control display effectively merge into a single driver-focused unit.
The BMW i4 will be produced at BMW Group Plant Munich. Following the implementation of intensive structural and remodelling measures, the cutting-edge manufacturing facility is now equipped to build the all-electric BMW i4 alongside models with combustion engines and plug-in hybrid drive systems.