BMW has confirmed that it will launch the all-electric i4 in India. The i4 will be BMW’s third all-electric model with the IX launching on December 13 and the all-electric Mini Cooper SE hatchback.
The all-electric i4 is based on a specially optimized version of the 3 Series’ CLAR architecture. In terms of design, the i4 is clearly related visibly to the combustion-engined 4 Series. It has a distinctive cab-rearward profile, a large, closed-off kidney grille and slim LED headlights.
Inside, there’s a 12.3-inch infotainment screen running BMW’s eighth-generation iDrive system, along with a 14.9-inch curved digital dial display, standard sports seats, and blue accents for the car’s electric underpinnings.
Internationally, the BMW i4 is available in two variants – eDrive40 and M50 xDrive. The entry-level eDrive40 variant is rear-wheel drive only and uses an electric motor that churns out 340hp and 430Nm. It is said to sprint from 0-100kph in 5.7 seconds.
The all-wheel drive M50 is powered by a 258hp motor on the front axle and 313hp on the rear axle, making for a combined output of 544hp and 795Nm. The M50 also gets a unique Sport Boost function that can be used to release full power output for about 10 seconds when operated in Sport mode. However, it remains to be seen which version of the BMW i4 will be offered in India.
The i4 uses a floor-mounted lithium-ion battery pack that has a gross (total) energy capacity of 83.9kWh and a net (usable) capacity of 80.7kWh. It can charge at rates of up to 200kW, adding up to 164km range in the eDrive40 and 140km worth of electrical energy in the M50 in just 10 minutes. Plus, adjustable regenerative braking can top up the battery at 195kW in the M50 and 116kW in the eDrive40.
The RWD variant boasts of a WLTP range of 590km on a single charge, and the more powerful AWD variant delivers a 510km range.
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