Your answer to the Tesla Model 3 and the advancing electrification in general took a long time. Especially since in Munich they had done their homework early on with the first i3 and the no longer available i8. But the restrained sales success of the debut works put a damper on the electric euphoria.
This is precisely why the BMW i4 now looks like a surprisingly balanced hit, especially in comparison to the sometimes hastily compiled competition. Because the technical data of the two variants offered at the start correspond exactly to the two buyer trends for electric cars.
Some want maximum range and the lowest possible consumption, others value full e-boost and the fastest possible acceleration. These preferences are taken into account with the BMW i4 eDrive 40 (combined power consumption: 20-16 kWh; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g / km²; provisional WLTP range 590 km²) and BMW i4 M50 (combined power consumption: 24-19 kWh; Combined CO2 emissions: 0 g / km²; provisional WLTP range 510 km²).
Big battery, long range
As the centerpiece, both rely on an energy storage device with a capacity of 83.9 kWh, of which 80.7 kWh can be used. The individual cells have a capacity of 210 Ah. That is an increase of 75 percent compared to the 120 Ah cells currently still installed in the i3.
In the eDrive 40, the battery is connected to a 250 kW / 340 hp rear engine, which can do the standard sprint in 5.7 seconds, which is more common for a combustion engine. The reason for this is the relatively low torque of 430 Nm. But for BMW, the long-distance version of the i4 was less about performance and more about efficiency. For this reason, an externally excited synchronous motor was installed that completely dispenses with permanent magnets and thus rare raw materials. Because the conservation of resources also counts for the Munich-based company when it comes to e-automobiles.
The range is currently specified as 590 kilometers. On the fast charger, the BMW i4 eDrive 40 then has almost 200 kW at peak charging, in this area a range of 164 kilometers can be followed in ten minutes. The ten to 80 percent charge is done in 31 minutes.
Sprint times like a real M in the BMW i4 M50
The big brother BMW i4 M50 meanwhile trusts in the power of two hearts. 230 kW at the rear and a further 190 kW at the front provide 400 kW system output in “Sport Boost Mode”, i.e. 544 PS in the old currency. In the Comfort, Standard and Sport modes, the E-Kombi delivers up to 350 kW / 476 PS. The torque is also impressive, because both engines together push 795 Nm. The 0-100 km / h sprint is done in 3.9 seconds and the top is a limited 225 km / h. Incidentally, the eDrive 40 is only allowed to drive 190 km / h. However, the M50 pays for its performance with less range. According to a preliminary standard calculation, it only manages 510 kilometers, since its consumption window is specified as 19 to 24kWh per 100km. The eDrive 40 has 16-20 kWh and the correspondingly higher level of self-sufficiency from the socket.
Market launch and prices
The prices are also exciting. Because both BMW i4s available from November 2021 qualify for the reduced environmental bonus of 7,975 euros. The eDrive 40 is quoted at 58,300 euros including VAT in the price list, for the M50 at least 69,900 euros are due. But that puts the white-blue Stromer in the middle of the competition from Model 3 Performance and Polestar 2 Dual Long-Range. (Text: fm | Pictures: Manufacturer)