The rumor mill is buzzing around BMWs first ever fully electric four-door fastback style sedan. The BMW i4 model harkens back to the i Vision Dynamics concept that was initially unveiled at 2017's Frankfurt Motor Show.
So far, there is little to go on online and yet, opinions of car buffs and reviewers are all over the gambit, with many eagerly awaiting and others fully pooh-poohing on BMW's electric car strategy. Most recently, there have been glimpses of a camouflaged version being tested on the track and in snow. While it’s too early to confirm all the juicy details and specs, here’s what you should know.
10 EV Future
The i4 is a part of a bold move by BMW to transition to an electric line up they refer to as "NEXTGen." The i4 is the first fully electric coupe car of the bunch, with its predecessor being the i3 and hybrids like the i8.
BMW’s Chairman of the Board of Management, Oliver Zipse, promises the i4 "will offer customers the joy of our sporty DNA, combined with pure electric power." The automaker intends to launch 12 new electrically-powered models by 2025, suggesting it will be an electric future for BMW. Ready or not, here it comes.
9 Charging and Distance
With an electric car, the best features are comfort and range. Considering it's debatable if a modern BMW family car has been ever called uncomfortable, it's all up to range. Amazingly, the i4 is expected to have a range of up to 435 miles, which beats the Tesla Model 3 by 65 miles. However, the range has fluctuated considerably, with some predicting around 300 miles to be more accurate.
The battery of the i4 is slated to be 90 or 120 kWh lithium-ion. BMW will offer plug-in charging using a DC 150 KW charger, which will require something like the BMW i Wallbox for home charging. Similar to the micro-USB to USB-C conundrum, if you plan to use a Tesla charging station, you'll still likely need an adapter or dongle.
8 Release Date
The latest update on the official announcement is that the i4 will have its grand debut at the 2020 Frankfurt Motor Show and will be available in 2021. That said, BMW does have an affinity for releasing in Europe first, a note for any Americans out there chomping at the bit. You can sign up for updates on the BMW website.
BMW has already invested over $225 million into its Munich plant in prep for production. In case you're allergic to combustion engines, you should know the plant will manufacture electric, combustion, and hybrid cars.
7 Price Tag
Surprisingly, the new BMM i4 is set to be an affordable offering for greater mass appeal. This is something BMW has considered over the years in their combustion line-up, with a 2 Series starting at only $36,295.
Word on the street is the i4 will have a sticker price between the $50,000-$70,000 range, which places it at a similar price as a 5 series. This is also comparable to the Tesla Model S's $43,000 sticker price, especially if you add any one of the many options. Both are a steal compared to the Porsche Taycan model, which has an MSRP price of $119,400 and a shorter driving range.
6 Design
If you're expecting the space-age i Vision Dynamics concept car you saw at Frankfurt Motor Show, you're going to need to temper your expectations. The i4 design sits somewhere in the middle of the i3 and i8. For those familiar with the BMW line-up, it looks very similar to the Gen 4 Series Gran Coupe. Like, a lot.
The biggest differences that have been unveiled lately thanks to the spy shots from track testing, include notably sharp-edged running lamps inside of oval-shaped lights, and a sporty arching roof-line that creates a sleek rear without compromising passenger seating headroom. It is a family car after all.
5 Color And Interior
Based on the latest spy photos from the test track, the i4 interior will closely match that a Gen 4 series Gran Coupe. It’s comfortable and stylish but by no means the sci-fi design of the i Vision Dynamics concept. If you haven't bought into the super minimalist design of the Tesla models, you're probably going to be in luck with the i4.
According to the BMW website, the featured color for the i4 is Forbidden Red. If the i3 is any indication, there could also be Imperial Blue Metallic, Jucaro Beige Metallic, Fluid Black, and Mineral Grey.
4 Engine Specs
BMW is still very hush-hush on specifics. So far, we know the i4 will be available in automatic as a single-speed with a fixed ratio. BMW did also confirm how fast it will be. At a minimum, you can expect that the i4 will accelerate from 0–100 km/h (0-60 mph) in 4.0 seconds.
For context, this will beat a stock Chevrolet Camaro SS and Jaguar F-Type Coupe and will nip at the tail of a Porsche Cayman GTS.
The layout of the car is a rear-motor, rear-wheel drive. The platform used for the i4 is BMW's modular CLAR platform, rather than a carbon-fiber structure of its predecessors the i3 and i8 electric models.
3 Top Speed
BMW has also stated that the i4 will have a top speed in excess of 200 km/h (124 mph) and an estimated 600 horsepower. With the bar being set at around 125 mph, the i4's top speed has quite a ways to go to reach the Tesla Model 3, which can reach around 163 mph.
That said, at this point, these are all predictions. The i4's top speed has yet to be truly decided.
2 Rumors
It can be assumed but isn’t confirmed that the i4 will get to take advantage of much of BMW’s latest technology, including eDrive system, which is a variation on BMW's fifth-generation electric drivetrain. However, there’s speculation of there being AWD and RWD versions, depending on the powertrain layout (one or two electric motors).
What will happen to the design of BMW's distinctive kidney grille? Your guess is as good as everyone else speculating right now.
BMW is also chasing the autonomous driving dream, so it's possible that the i4 will host advanced features like changing lanes, helping you steer, parking and backing up. Hopefully, they’ll include the voice-activated control that is comparable to Kit from Knight Rider, as it listens and learns from your commands.
1 Styling Inspiration
This isn't the first time BMW has brought a concept car to life. In 2011, BMW showed off the concept car for the i8 at the International Motor Show in Germany. The ultra-futuristic hybrid design was heavily influenced by the BMW M1 homage concept car. Likely due to the pomp and circumstances of its butterfly doors, 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, and insane fuel economy, the i8 became the world’s top-selling plug-in electrified sports car.
Despite being based on the i Vision Dynamics concept car, as more details emerge that show key differences between it and the i4, there’s plenty of curiosity about whether that futuristic model will ever come to the public market.