- bmw's i4 concept is on the leading edge of 25 hybrid and electric models the automaker promises by 2023.
- the i4 concept was meant to make its debut live at the geneva auto show this week and is expected to go on sale as a production model in early 2021.
- bmw claims 372 miles of range on the european wltp cycle—but an epa estimate of 270 miles, and estimates a zero-to-60-mph time of around 4.0 seconds.
bmw's foray into electrification has not had tesla-like success. the brand's "i" cars, built to introduce electrification to dedicated platforms, haven't sold well. the oddball i3 and the gorgeous three-cylinder-powered i8 are perhaps best thought of as carbon-fiber trial balloons. bmw isn't giving up on electrics, though, and promises 25 electrified models (hybrids and pure electrics) by 2023. this i4 concept, which should go on sale early next year, is a look at bmw's much-needed answer to tesla's sedans.
technically, the i4 is a concept. but the lightly disguised version is merely missing the paint, head and taillights, and interior of the production i4 that is due sometime next year. the concept has pleasing long-hood proportions, but the design is characterized by its soft, flowing shape, and pinched roofline that borrows from the recently introduced 2-series gran coupe playbook. it looks a bit dull after you see what audi has done with the e-tron gt concept.
the bmw trademark kidney grille is more of a buck tooth here. since this is an ev, its grille is a decoration; no air passes through it. air for the battery's cooling system and air conditioning is taken in from below the front bumper. what is remarkable about the i4 is that in its current state it could be the next 4-series gran coupe, and with its general shape, it will be. there's not much in the shape or detailing that advertises the i4's electric powertrain, and bmw designers tell us that is by design. perhaps that's a lesson learned from going full weird with the i3.
propelling the i4 is a 530-hp motor placed in the rear axle. a zero-to-60-mph time of around 4.0 seconds is expected, according to bmw, which also touts a preliminary 372-mile range from the roughly 80.0-kwh battery pack on the european wltp cycle, although the epa estimate is a more conservative 270 miles of range. bmw has been building its own batteries since 2003. real range and acceleration numbers will have to wait until the i4 reaches production.
to charge i4's onboard charger promises 150-kw fast-charging capability, which would get the battery to an 80 percent charge in about 35 minutes. that compares with tesla's now 250-kw supercharger capability and porsche taycan with its 350-kw charger.
driver-focused cockpit is back
the i4's interior design marks an obvious return to bmw's driver-focused cockpit. instead of an instrument panel canted toward the driver, there's a large rectangular touchscreen that curves toward the driver. a number of lighting elements are sprinkled throughout the cabin and change color depending on which mode the driver selects. futuristic fabrics and leather blend beautifully together, and bmw designers made the conscious decision to replace touchpoints with crystal-like plastic, similar to the optional shifter in some bmws.
perhaps the most unusual part of the i4 concept is the new roundel badge. bmw has played with the font before, but their logo has never been this radically redesigned. it's the most radical part of an otherwise straightforward electric car.