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Premiere for BMW. With the i4 the Bavarians bring their first all-electric car, which will save the brand's genetic make-up for the new era.
Everything that makes us humans is in the DNA. Everyone is unique and yet belongs to a family. DNA also plays a decisive role in the creators of automobiles. How do I pass the genome on to the next model generation so that it can be clearly identified as a child of the brand? A question that is becoming even more explosive on the way to electromobility. Rather than with combustion engines, electric drives are usually free of their own character-giving essence.
Electric driving fun
So how do you build emission-free driving pleasure? BMW's answer is i4. It is BMW's first e-car that is all about driving pleasure. The people of Munich say: With the i4, electromobility reaches the core of the brand. Translated from the marketing German: The i4 has to convince motorheads. Because BMW also knows one thing: there is no longer a back door out of electromobility.
Two i4 variants will be connected to the power grid from November: the BMW i4 eDrive40 with 250 kW / 340 PS, rear-wheel drive and a range of 590 kilometers (according to WLTP) and the first fully electric Performance M model we drive, the BMW i4 M50 with 400 kW / 544 hp, standard all-wheel drive and rear-axle air suspension. Promised range 521 kilometers. The standard consumption (WLTP) is 18 to 22,5 kWh.
4 Series Gran Coupé as a model for the i4
The body of the 4,78 meter long i4 only has around 30 percent identical parts to the three, and is technically much closer to the 4 Series Grand Coupé. The front track is 2,6 centimeters wider than the three-wheeler, while the rear is 1,2. The doors are identical to the 4 Series Gran Coupé, and the seats and steering wheel are the same. Otherwise almost everything is new: steering column, brake kit, front and rear axles. New types of torsion struts and a front axle carrier that is firmly connected to the battery housing are intended to guarantee that the body structure is as rigid as possible.
For a better drag coefficient (0,24) and even better performance, the vehicle's center of gravity is up to 5,3 centimeters lower than that of the three-seater sedan. According to BMW, this means 80 kilometers more range. This is also made possible by the extremely flat design of the battery, which has a cell height of just 11 centimeters. Special aluminum wheels with plastic inserts are also 15 percent lighter, which is another 15 kilometers more.
BMW worked hard to make the i4 a car in its own right. The E-Power plant in the basement takes care of that. The architecture of the construction kit is flexible and modular. Technically, the electric drive is largely identical to that of the new iX. With the fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology, the electric motor, power electronics and transmission are all in one housing, which should lead to a particularly high power density and high efficiency.
795 Newton meters!
The high-voltage battery of the i4 xDrive 50 has an output of 83,9 kWh (gross). An electric motor is used at the front and rear of the 544 hp Performance M model. BMW specifies the maximum system torque with an impressive 795 Newton meters. Technical treat: The magnetic field of the synchronous motors is generated electrically. This means that they do not need permanent magnets. The power flow between the two electric motors is handled by intelligent control electronics.
The so-called “actuator-related wheel slip limitation” optimizes the traction in dynamic situations, the power is sent from the front to the rear in hundredths of a millisecond. A sailing function can completely decouple the drive on the open route and thus save additional energy.
A lot looks normal behind the wheel of the i4. Super sports seats, in which you sit deeply rooted in the car. The iDrive with its controller in the center console is much easier to read than the over-designed iX. From this, the i4 takes over the large, stylish curved touch display and the new operating system - which either fascinates or drives you crazy. It can learn and most functions can also be called up by voice command. But if you don't constantly daddle late into the night on your PC, you will find it difficult to turn the corner.
A mega range of functions, menus and submenus from submenus require plenty of attention and a good memory. Where was that again ...? A system that playful Chinese and nerds in Silicon Valley will love. Survivors of the music cassette generation have to laboriously work their way into it.
No limits
Of course, everyone can also configure their M as they like via the menu. Harder, softer, the steering tighter and more direct, the response behavior more aggressive. Everything goes. In general, the i4 built in Munich is completely digital. The system can be updated over-the-air and can transfer data via the 5G mobile standard. Around 40 hard-working assistants take care of comfort and safety, while adaptive recuperation uses navigation data for intelligent, predictive energy recovery.
On request, there is also a digital dose from the retort on the ears. Six-cylinder babbling was yesterday. Today every step on the gas pedal is underlaid with an artificially generated sound carpet. Composed by Oscar winner and film music god Hans Zimmer. If the IconicSound is activated, the i4 sounds like spaceship Enterprise when accelerating when Scotty ignites the warp reactor in the engine room.
The effect is very similar, by the way. Pedal to the metal - and out of nowhere there follows an explosion brand meltdown. Because the electronics have everything under control and practically no loss of traction, the i4 shoots forward like a bullet from a revolver. Anyone who dares to launch a catapult via launch control should have a healthy stomach. When you're out and about, it is advisable to activate the Sport Boost for roller coaster fans. It bundles all forces for around ten seconds and accelerates the i4 again with vehemence and ease, as if physical laws were just a friendly recommendation. The i225 reaches the top speed of 4 km / h in a few blink of an eye. Only then does the electronics throw the anchor and you run into an imaginary fist.
M-Power in the new generation
Anyone who overtakes on the country road with this mega-power should have both hands firmly on the handlebars and always smile nicely. The photos from the office then simply look friendlier. This M-device has power to the point and brings it extremely confidently on the road. The excess weight (2.050 kilograms), which is not exactly flattering for a sports car, is concealed beyond recognition by the control systems, like a wide shirt the prosperity pod. The driving dynamics right up to the limit is outstanding, although not as close as it used to be in the purely mechanical M models. And yet the engineers managed to transplant the typical BMW feeling. Operation succeeded.
The emotions via cable connection cost at least 69.900 euros. Gladly much more. Because one thing will unfortunately not change in the beautiful new world of connectors: the surcharge list is still fully loaded.
Technical data
Five-door sedan with electric all-wheel drive; Length: 4,78, width: 1,85 meters, height: 1,45 meters, wheelbase: 2,86 meters, trunk volume: 470 - 1.290 liters
Drive with two electric motors, system output 400 kW / 544 PS, system torque 795 Nm, one-way automatic transmission, battery 83,9 kWh (gross). 0-100 km / h: 3,9 s, Vmax: 225 km / h (electronically limited), power consumption: 18,0 - 22,5 kWh / 100 km (WLTP combined), max.range 416 - 521 km (WLTP ), Price from: 69.900 euros
In brief
Why: because the i4 accelerates like the devil is after it
Why not: because that very close M feeling is missing
What else: Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2, Audi e-tron GT, Porsche Taycan
When does he come: from November on