BMW Reveals i4 Electric Gran Coupe With Promising Stats
The EV will come in 2 variants and can go up to 590 km (claimed) before its battery needs recharging.
BMW has revealed the i4, a 4-door electric coupe set for November 2021 launch overseas. According to BMW, the i4 is its first electric vehicle focused squarely on driving dynamics.
Two variants – the eDrive40 and M50 – of the electric gran coupe will be available from launch. Both will come with a 83.9 kWh (gross capacity) high-voltage battery.
Powering the 2021 BMW i4 is a single electric motor that drives the rear wheels through a single-speed automatic transmission.
Maximum power output of the motor is 250 kW (340 HP), while peak torque rating is 430 Nm, which is enough to propel the 2050 kg (DIN scale) EV to a top speed of 190 km/hr. The 0-100 km/hr sprint is done in 5.7 seconds.
More importantly, the BMW i4 has a claimed range of 590 km (WLTP) on a single charge. Should the charge be used up, a 11 kW charger can top up the battery (0-100 percent) in 8.5 hours, while a 200 kW DC fast-charger (10-80 percent) does it in 31 minutes.
However, the 2021 BMW i4 M50 eclipses the rear-wheel drive model with ease thanks to its 2 electric motors providing all-wheel drive and the strong 400 kW (544 HP) and 795 Nm power and torque figures.
Despite weighing more (2215 kg), the i4 M50 does the 0-100 km/hr dash in 3.9 seconds and flat out, it can do 225 km/hr. Understandably, the range reduces to 510 km, but the charge time remains the same as the regular model.
Furthermore, the ‘sporty’ version also features variable sport steering, adaptive M suspension, M Sport braking system and optional M light-alloy wheels (up to 20-inch).
BMW says the i4 is based on a flexible vehicle architecture developed for electric drive system. The chassis tech uses a double-joint spring strut front axle and 5-link rear axle, while lift-related dampers and rear-axle air suspension come as standard.
Back in March, BMW revealed the design of the i4. However, the M50 model was not shown. Now, we know that the sportier model will look largely the same, save for the M Carbon exterior package and M Performance Parts.
Cabin ambience of both models is premium to say the least. There are an array of individualisation options to tailor the EV to the owner’s tastes while plentiful features are also offered.
There are features like a sunroof, ambient lighting, heated and ventilated seats, Harman Kardon Surround Sound System, 12.3-inch instrument cluster, 14.9-inch touchscreen, navigation, smartphone integration, electric tailgate, and more.
Safety features, on top of passive systems, include around 40 driver assistance functions, Park Distance Control, Reversing Assist Camera, among others.
