What The BMW i4 Electric Car Can Tell Us About BMW's Future – TopSpeed

The BMW i4 marks a monumental leap forward for the Bavarian brand’s electric car endeavors. This thrilling new fastback sedan is one of its most important products to be released, because it represents its next step that joins futuristic driving technology with its traditional car philosophy. Thus far, its strategy has been paying off, as the i4 is proving to be a success across global regions. The brand’s Q3 sales figures reveal that the i4 was a particularly popular choice among its consumers, despite not providing a sales breakdown. Its entire fully electric sales portfolio increased by 100.3 percent compared to the same period last year. 13,079 of the 83,211 cars sold globally were done so in the American market. A large portion of this is expected to be accredited to the i4.

BMW balances its traditional core values with the beckoning future of automotive technology, which is why it remains one of the top premium global automotive manufacturers. The i4 is an example of this, with its sleek and recognizable design and electrifying performance. This car is just the start of the company’s electric journey, and heralds what’s to come from the Munich-based automaker as a testimony to its broader strategic vision. BMW’s i4 reveals how the brand is stepping up to meet the evolving demands of modern drivers while staying true to its core values. This is a response to how global markets are pivoting towards electric mobility and autonomy. The i4 sets a precedent for BMW by taking advantage of the best design, performance, efficiency, battery technology, and autonomous safety features developed by the company. Each aspect of the i4 hints at BMW’s roadmap for the impending electric era, underlining the brand’s readiness to embrace the shift while retaining its unique beliefs.

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Keeping Conventional Car Design Cues

The BMW i4 makes a definitive statement that electric cars can maintain a conventional and appealing aesthetic design without sacrificing futuristic technology under the shell. BMW forgoes the radical design cues it has applied to its other EVs, if the preposterous faux-kidney grilles are ignored. With the i4, it chooses a path of familiarity that doesn’t alienate the product from its ICE range. The i4 retains the sleek body lines and the premium finish that has become synonymous with BMW’s more than 100 years of car production.

BMW i4 eDrive40 Exterior Dimensions

(Data sourced from BMW)

Lim Seung-mo was the appointed head designer for the concept and production model’s exterior, while Lee Chung-Kyo handled the cabin. Their approach caters to the brand loyalists and invites traditional car enthusiasts to the electric domain. The i4’s interior is perfectly executed as it doesn’t deviate from the ICE 4 Series range at all, while still providing subtle blue accents to signify that electrification is present. There is some debate on whether the cabin should have adopted the concept’s dazzling approach, but a more conservative approach better suits the final design. The i4’s design philosophy underscores BMW’s understanding that a drastic departure from conventional design may alienate a significant portion of its customer base. The Bavarian brand ensures a smooth transition for its clientele into the electric era, by merging the old with the new.

Blending Driver Engagement With Efficiency

Before anything else, BMWs must translate a good sense of driver engagement. Thankfully, the i4 is able to achieve this as it adopts the CLAR architecture, which has been applauded for its class-leading comfort levels and handling prowess. The real challenge comes when trying to adapt an ICE chassis into an efficient electric car. The brand’s engineers stayed ahead of this curve by making sure the chassis can accommodate a floor-mounted battery back to retain a low center of gravity. This also means it benefits from a very capable 83.9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, weighing the base i4 in at 4,680 pounds compared to the ICE 430i’s 3,708-pound weight.

A focal point of the i4’s driving dynamics is its front MacPherson strut and rear multilink air suspension setup, diving it sharp turning abilities without compromising comfort. The M50 turns things up with its adaptive M dampers, giving the chassis live adjustments to optimize handling by gathering input readings from the driver and surface. BMW retains its impressive weight distribution with its EV sedan, by achieving a 45:55 ratio for the rear-wheel drive eDrive40 and a 48:52 ratio for the all-wheel drive M50. The upcoming Neue Klasse chassis will only be used for electric cars, so fans can expect BMW to deliver even lower curb weights, better weight distribution, and sharper handling characteristics.

Related: 10 Things To Know About The BMW i4

Innovating High Voltage Battery Technology

An EV is nothing without a good battery pack. BMW understood this when developing the 83.9 kWh lithium-ion pack for the i4. This innovative energy source measures 4.3-inches tall and consists of 72 cells each and three 12-cell modules. This new pack’s density is 40 percent more than the i3’s battery, showcasing amazing technological evolution. The most energy-efficient model is the base eDrive35, bringing in a 113 MPGe combined EPA-estimate with a 256-mile range claim. The eDrive40 benefits from a higher 301-mile range and marginally lower 109 MPGe estimated consumption. Both of these models come standard with 18-inch wheels.

BMW i4 3Drive35 Battery Specifications

(Data sourced from BMW)

The M50 on 20-inch wheels is the least efficient model, with an 80 MPGe and 227-mile range estimate, but this is still impressive for a car that is almost on par with the previous-generation BMW M4. A Neue Klasse-based model will succeed the i4 range, with promises of better battery and energy consumption performance. Charging convenience is also a priority, thanks to Level Three direct current fast charging, which can replenish the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 31 minutes. Level Two charging at 240 Volts recovers the full state of charge in just over eight hours. Expect these times to be significantly reduced when the Neue Klasse architecture arrives.

Revolutionizing Automotive Performance

All variations of the BMW i4 prioritize high power outputs to ensure owners can get the most out of the CLAR chassis’ capabilities. The bade eDrive35 uses a single rear-mounted electric motor to produce 282 horsepower and 292 pound-feet, granting it a claimed 0-60 MPH time of 5.8 seconds. The flagship M50 produces a sports car-rivaling 536 horsepower and 586 pound-feet to all four wheels, using a dual-motor layout. BMW claims its M-performance EV will sprint from 0-60 MPH in 3.7 seconds, but some tests reveal it can be as fast as 3.3 seconds.

BMW i4 M50 Performance Specifications

(Data sourced from BMW)

BMW will push the boundaries of performance with its next-generation of electric cars thanks to a chassis design that will prioritize EV efficiency, better weight distribution, and high power outputs. Titans like Porsche and Tesla have considerable head-start in the performance EV sphere. Thankfully for BMW, its long lineage of expertise on and off the track will give it an edge in creating a class-leading electric performance car that can comfortably seat four people.

Related: 5 Reasons Why We Love The BMW i4 (And, 5 Why We Don’t!)

Making User-Safety A Priority Through Autonomy

BMW is an innovator in the automotive safety sphere, and the i4 is a very significant example of this. The electric sedan offers a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assist systems with Level Two semi-autonomous driving capabilities. The i7 is currently the only Level Three Autonomous product in the BMW stable, but this will filter down into smaller models like the i4 in due time.

The Bavarian brand’s pre-sense collision system also provides considerable protection in the unfortunate event of a collision, as detailed by the car’s four-star overall rating from the Euro NCAP. The IIHS and NHTSA have not tested the i4 range, but there is little reason it wouldn’t excel in their stringent tests. Neue Klasse products will aim for Level Three and Four Autonomy levels through the power of connectivity and next-generation LiDAR equipment.