BMW i4 Revealed Ahead Of May 26 Launch
The BMW i4 electric vehicle has been unveiled in India ahead of its introduction on May 26, 2022. After the flagship iX SUV and the Mini Cooper SE hatchback, the i4 will be the BMW Group’s third all-electric vehicle in India.
The i4 isn’t a ground-up EV like the BMW iX, which is a born EV. It is essentially an all-electric variant of the 4 Series Gran Coupe, and is based on a specially adapted version of the 3 Series’ CLAR chassis.
The blanked-off front grille, like most EVs, aero-optimized wheels, blue highlights, flush door handles, and altered front and rear bumpers are just a few of the EV-specific design details.
Unlike the BMW iX, the i4 does not have a flat floor and a free center console area. The curving twin-screen set-up, which includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, is still the showpiece of the cabin. BMW’s latest iDrive 8 user interface is installed on the system, which also enables over-the-air updates.
In India, the new BMW i4 is scheduled to be available in two models: the eDrive40 revealed today and the more powerful M50 xDrive. The i4 eDrive 40 has a 340hp and 430Nm electric motor installed in the rear axle, and BMW claims a 0-100kph time of 5.7 seconds. The i4 M50 xDrive, on the other hand, has all-wheel drive, produces 544 horsepower and 795 Nm, and can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 3.9 seconds.
Both models feature a lithium-ion battery pack that is installed on the floor and has a gross (total) energy capacity of 83.9kWh and a net (usable) capacity of 80.7kWh. The i4 eDrive 40 has a stated range of 590 kilometers (WLTP cycle), while the M50 xDrive has a claimed range of 510 kilometers (WLTP cycle).
The i4 can charge at up to 200kW, giving the eDrive40 an extra 164 kilometers of range in just 10 minutes. The eDrive40, also has regenerative braking, which can charge the battery at up to 116kW.
In our market, the i4 will have no direct competitors whenever it is released. Instead, the top-spec M50 xDrive will compete with the Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan’s entry-level models.
