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2021 BMW i4 Electric Gran Coupe Previewed, Will Feature 80-kWh Battery

The BMW Group has confirmed the lineup it’s bringing to the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, and the starring role goes to the Concept i4. As the name implies, we’re dealing with a preview for the e-grand coupe that will arrive at dealers in 2021 alongside the iNEXT flagship electric vehicle.
2021 BMW i4 concept 15 photos
Photo: BMW
2021 BMW i4 Spyshots Show Tesla Model 3 Rival With Kidney Grilles2021 BMW i4 Spyshots Show Tesla Model 3 Rival With Kidney Grilles2021 BMW i4 Spyshots Show Tesla Model 3 Rival With Kidney Grilles2021 BMW i4 Spyshots Show Tesla Model 3 Rival With Kidney Grilles2021 BMW i4 Spyshots Show Tesla Model 3 Rival With Kidney Grilles2021 BMW i4 Spyshots Show Tesla Model 3 Rival With Kidney Grilles2021 BMW i4 Spyshots Show Tesla Model 3 Rival With Kidney Grilles2021 BMW i4 Spyshots Show Tesla Model 3 Rival With Kidney Grilles2021 BMW i4 Spyshots Show Tesla Model 3 Rival With Kidney Grilles2021 BMW i4 Spyshots Show Tesla Model 3 Rival With Kidney Grilles2021 BMW i4 Spyshots Show Tesla Model 3 Rival With Kidney Grilles2021 BMW i4 Spyshots Show Tesla Model 3 Rival With Kidney Grilles2021 BMW i4 Spyshots Show Tesla Model 3 Rival With Kidney Grilles2021 BMW i4 Spyshots Show Tesla Model 3 Rival With Kidney Grilles
From the video teaser published by BMW, it’s easy to tell the footprint of the upcoming model. The four-door fastback sedan is pretty similar to the 3 Series, but as opposed to internal combustion, customers will be treated to either a rear-mounted electric drive unit or dual-motor xDrive.

Based on the Vision Dynamics Concept from the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, the i4 rides on the CLuster Architecture – a.k.a. CLAR platform – of the 3 Series and iX3. BMW is said to offer two battery options with 60 and 80 kWh. Only the long-range model is expected to receive all-wheel drive.

Driving range estimate? Make that 600 kilometers on the WLTP test cycle, translating to 373 miles in the United Kingdom. The Environmental Protection Agency is certain to downgrade the i4 to 350 miles or 340 given the different testing procedure, but nevertheless, that’s getting real close to the Model 3. Tesla’s electric sedan car currently offers up to 322 miles.

Charging will also impress EV enthusiasts, taking six minutes to deliver approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) of range. Juicing up to 80 percent will take around 35 minutes from a 150-kW charging station.

The i4 xDrive80 or whatever it’ll be called will produce in the ballpark of 530 PS (523 horsepower). Acceleration and top speed? Make that four seconds flat and 200 kph (124 mph), which is impressive even if the Tesla Model 3 Performance can do a little better (3.2 seconds to 60 mph and 145 mph).

Turning our attention back to the side profile of the Concept i4, doesn’t the newcomer look eerily similar to the 4 Series Gran Coupe? And on that note, keep those fingers crossed the i4 won’t get the oversized grille of the next-generation 4 Series, M4 coupe and cabriolet, and M3 sports sedan.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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