After the i3 hatchback, iX3 utility vehicle, and big daddy iX, the confusing nomenclature of BMW electric vehicles prepares to welcome the i4. Pretty much a 4 Series Gran Coupé with a rear-mounted electric motor instead of a six-cylinder engine, the newcomer can also power slide with ease.
“Just two fingers and I’m really drifting,” says project leader David Ferrufino in the following video that details the final calibration of the i4. “The handling is laser-sharp due to three factors,” coming in the guise of “steering support, damping, and the return-to-center of the steering wheel.”
I wouldn’t be as enthusiastic, though, because taking an EV to the limits of grip is very different from an internal combustion-engined vehicle. The steering system also happens to be electric instead of a hydraulic setup, which takes away from the feedback offered by the wheels during turn-in.
Be that as it may, the i4 develops up to 390 kW or 530 metric horsepower. That’s 523 horsepower in U.S. currency, making the family-sized sedan with coupe styling a genuine alternative to the BMW M3 for the 2021 model year. Capable of hitting 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph) in four seconds, the all-electric newcomer is equipped with the Bavarian automaker’s latest battery cells, which enable a driving range of 600 kilometers (373 miles).
Primarily tuned for long-distance comfort, the BMW i4 features a model-specific damper setup that reduces dipping movements during launch. The actuator-related wheel slip limitation – also known as ARB – is another highlight because it guarantees optimum traction and stability even on damp roads.
“For the first time, we’ve developed a BMW with sporty DNA for purely electric driving entirely from scratch,” explains David Ferrufino, which isn’t entirely correct. The i4 wasn’t developed from the ground up because it’s actually based on the CLuster ARchitecture of the 4 Series and the iX.
At the present moment, CLAR is utilized in every rear-driven model line from the 3 Series up to the 8 Series and X7. Not long now, the 2 Series Coupe and X8 coupe-styled utility vehicle will also adopt the highly modular platform.
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. Full profile
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