The BMW India brand has announced its third all-electric car, the i4, slated to be launched on 26th May. The other 2 all-electric models of BMW are the flagship iX SUV and the recently-launched Mini Cooper SE hatchback.
The i4 electric has been built based on the 3 Series CLAR architecture and is the all-electric version of BMW’s 4 Series Gran Coupe.
It’s not a pure EV from the grounds up unlike the flagship iX though. The i4 features a brushed silver grille, aero-tested wheels, piano black inserts, and prominent bulges and creases throughout. These changes render a premium look to the car.
On the inside, the curved 2-screen cluster consists of a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system running the latest iDrive 8 user interface with support for OTA updates.
The new i4 might be launched in 2 variants – eDrive40 and the powerful M50 xDrive. The former gets a rear axle-mounted electric motor producing 340 HP and 430 Nm with a claimed 0-100 km/hr sprint in 5.7 seconds. The M50 xDrive gets an all-wheel-drive system that exerts 544 HP and 795 Nm hitting the ton in just 3.9 seconds.
Coming to the powerplant, both the variants use a floor-mounted lithium-ion battery pack with a total capacity of 83.9 kWh. The BMW i4 eDrive 40 has a claimed range of 590 km (WLTP cycle), while the sporty M50 xDrive has a claimed range of 510 km (WLTP cycle).
The i4 can work on a 200 kW charger with 164 km range attained in 10 minutes of charge to the eDrive40. The car also gets regenerative braking that can top-up the battery at charging rates up to 116 kW. WHEN LAUNCHED, the BMW i4 will rival the Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan.