BMW is a household name and one of the biggest players in the auto industry. We have enjoyed countless beemers throughout the span of a century, and they are not showing any signs of slowing down. We all know they have been one of the pioneers of tremendously esteemed 6-cylinder and 4-cylinder engines. Moreover, BMW is not new to the electric vehicles arena either. The i3 and i8 can be considered proof of that.
The 2022 i4 sedan looks to fortify the brand's electric vehicle portfolio further. One of the Bavarian automobile manufacturer's most famous models, the 3-Series, will be sustaining the upcoming i4. On that account, the new i4 will probably be a four-door sedan built to compete with similar EV sedans like the Tesla Model 3 and the Audi e-Tron GT. Recently, BMW has disclosed the i4 in all its glory, and we were instantly taken back by its looks. In terms of pricing, BMW is aiming for the mid-range sports luxury market.
There will be two models available for the i4. Firstly, the regular version that bears the name 'eDrive40' which will cost $56,395. The higher trim, called the 'M50,' costing you $66,895. The i4 is a big step in electrifying BMW's product range as this will also be the first-ever fully electric 'M' car.
First Fully-Electric M Car
The 2022 i4 will send power to either one or two electric motors, depending on the model of your choice. The eDrive40 features one motor on the rear axle that produces 335 HP and 317 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 mph time expected to be in the range of 5.7 seconds. The M50 (first-ever electric M) has an electrical motor on both axles, which provide all-wheel drive and produce 536 HP and 586 lb-ft of torque. The extra power will facilitate the car with its 0-60 mph time estimated to be around 3.9 seconds. The rear-drive i4 comes with a beautiful set of 18-inch rims, although you can ask for a 19-inch variant as well.
Conversely, the all-wheel-drive M50 comes with either 19 or 20-inch wheels, adaptive dampers, and a variable-ratio mechanism. Both trims feature an 81.5-kWh battery pack, while the rear-wheel-drive version boasts an estimated max range of 300 miles. The dual-motor, all-wheel-drive M50 has the identical 81.5-kWh battery, but its maximum range is predicted to be around 240 miles. Both the i4s will have a 200-kilowatt charging capacity which will add 90 miles worth of charge in barely 10 minutes. The i4 can recharge its battery from 0-100% in roughly 8 hours using the onboard charger.
BMW i4 Interior And Safety
Inside the i4, rose gold trim, white leather upholstery, and lightweight wood trim are speculated. The sedan will share its platform with the company's 3-series sedan. Hence the interior will likely be equally as spacious. The i4 offers a four-door-coupe body style and what appears to be an oversized rear liftgate that opens to reveal an outsized enclosure like that of the BMW 4-series Gran Coupe. The i4 is one of the primary BMWs to feature the company's latest infotainment system and connectivity features called iDrive 8. We can access it through a 14.9-inch touchscreen, integrated with a 12.3-inch digital electrical device on a large curved display on the dashboard. Together with a rotary controller on the middle console, the system will offer heaps of popular features like advanced voice commands, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and of course, 5G mobile capability. The voice assistant is similar to other BMW sedans, and the climate control buttons are among the very few that will require physical button interaction.
The 2022 i4 offers a spread of ordinary and optional driver-assistance technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites will soon update the i4's crash-test results. Some of the key safety features include the regular stuff like standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, standard lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive controller with stop-and-go technology. In terms of warranty and Maintenance Coverage, BMW currently offers a tempting warranty that features one in all the higher complimentary maintenance periods. The i4 is an electric vehicle; therefore, its battery components will be covered too, likely for eight years or 100,000 miles based on previous stats.
The BMW i4 Is Going To Shake Things Up
The first-ever electric M is a bigger deal than it sounds. The staple of BMW's in-house performance range is as iconic as it's filled with a rich history of extraordinary cars like the M3, M5, and M8. BMW's previous track record and the features on the upcoming i4 suggest that the sedan will turn out to be the dark horse of the EV sedan market. It is believed that the i4 will sneakily enter the market and shake things up big time. To say that we are eagerly waiting on how good the i4 turns out to be is an understatement. BMW has made many headlines for making nearly perfect cars in the past. So, do not be surprised if BMW does it again with the i4.