The BMW i4 will arrive in 2021 with a range of 600 kilometres and 530 CV of power

The 3 Series is the flagship par excellence of BMW, so it is no surprise that the brand wants to convey its essence and characteristics to the future BMW i4, the first fully electric model for the premium mid-size segment, which also combines qualities such as sportiness, elegance, comfort, quality and the practicality typical of the brand’s Gran Coupé vehicles. But this is only the beginning, since BMW plans to have up to 25 electrified models by 2023, including hybrids and fully electric models.

For the moment we only know the prototype of the BMW i4, although we have already seen it under a thick layer of camouflage while undergoing winter testing. The BMW i4 will be built at the Munich plant, where the 3 Series with conventional and plug-in hybrid engines and the 4 Series and M4 are also assembled, and it will do so on a flexible architecture that allows great design freedom thanks largely to the flat design and low battery position and a compact design for the electric drive system.

Despite being a purely electric model, there will be no strange surprises in the design of the BMW i4: we find a silhouette with the usual proportions for a four-door coupé, along with the elongated lines and precise design typical of BMW models, to which the specific details for the BMW i models must be added. Inside, alongside a substantial technology package, we find a spacious cabin that pays special attention to the rear seats and to the ease of getting in and out of them, making it suitable both for everyday use and for long journeys.

But comfort is not the only thing an electric vehicle lives on, and BMW has also paid attention to its electric drive system: the new BMW i4 will feature the fifth generation of the BMW eDrive system, composed first of all of an electric motor developed specifically for this model that delivers 530 CV, placing it at power levels similar to the brand’s V8 combustion models, plus a high-voltage battery with a capacity of 80 kWh and a weight of 550 kilograms, which gives it a range of 600 kilometres, as well as acceleration to 100 km/h in just 4 seconds and a top speed exceeding 200 km/h.

The charging unit is also of new generation and has a design that can be adapted to future vehicle architectures, and it can be used in both plug-in hybrid and fully electric models. It is designed to reach a charging capacity of up to 150 kW, which means the high-voltage battery of the BMW i4 can be charged to 80% capacity in 35 minutes or, put another way, in about six minutes we would have enough charge to cover 100 kilometres.

This fifth generation of the BMW eDrive system will be available in 2020 with the launch of the BMW iX3, while in 2021 it will reach the BMW iNEXT and the BMW i4, the year in which they will finally go on sale.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackBMW i43 versions · from 58,650 €