BMW Showcases Upcoming i4, Claims 373 Miles of Range

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

The BMW i4 concept.

News about BMW's "i" sub-brand has been relatively absent lately. After introducing the electric BMW i3 and the plug-in hybrid i8 sports car, the German automaker hasn't introduced a new electric car for some time. BMW however, still has plans to release new fully-electric models and the i4 sedan will be one of them.

BMW i4 Coming In 2021

We've known for some time that BMW is working on the i4 to take on the Tesla Model S and Model 3. In 2018 at the Paris Motor Show, BMW chairman and board of management, Harald Krueger confirmed that the i4 would be launched after the iX3 electric crossover and the futuristic iNEXT.

Then, BMW announced another update and released some photos of the vehicle being tested. This gave us our first look at the vehicle, which doesn't look anything like the funky i3 or futuristic i8. 

Instead, the i4 revealed a normal looking electric sedan. BMW also confirmed some more stats on the vehicle, but the latest dump of information has given the automotive community the most detailed information on the vehicle so far, and the numbers are impressive. For one, the BMW is coming in 2021, which is just around the corner. 

The electric-motor set up in the i4 is reported to be 530 horsepower, which BMW is quick to point out is roughly the same amount of grunt in its models with internal combustion V8s. 

The sedan's battery pack is rated at 80 kWh, while range tops out at  roughly 373 miles. That number, though, is on Europe's more lenient WLTP testing standard. When the EPA gets its hands on an i4, we expect range to be much lower than that. Hopefully, it's still somewhere in the 300-mile range.

These numbers also ensure that the BMW i4 will be thrilling to drive. The automaker is claims the EV will be able to go from zero to 62 mph in just 4.0 seconds. Charging capacity will also be incredibly quick, as the i4 sedan is expected to handle charging rates up to 150 kW. That allows the electric sedan to charge at a rate of roughly 62 miles every six minutes, reaching an 80% charge In just 35 minutes.

BMW recently released photos of the camouflaged i4 electric sedan being tested in winter weather ahead of its 2021 launch.

Aiming For Tesla

When it comes to the i4's size, BMW will ensure it stays similar to the gas-powered BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe – a four-door hatchback. That makes sense since the vehicle has the number "4" in its name, hinting at a future naming scheme that BMW might use.

Like all BMW models, the i4 will come packed with BMW's latest and greatest technology. For one, the i4 will come with an integrated drive system that puts the transmission, power electronics, and electric motor in a single housing. By combining these components, BMW claims it has been able to achieve great power density, while reducing weight and decreasing manufacturing complexity.

BMW also incorporated the latest high-voltage batteries into the i4. The design of the battery is flat and stiff, allowing it to be positioned low in the vehicle floor for added safety in the event of an accident. Most likely BMW will use these batteries in its other EVs.

The i4 will be manufactured in Munich beginning in 2021. The Tesla rival could be available in the U.S. as early as 2021, debuting as a 2022 model. 

However, before the i4 comes out, BMW will introduce the iX3 in 2020 and the iNEXT in 2021.

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods