2021 BMW i4 EV to get 390kW and 600km range
German brand locks down spec for pure-electric Tesla Model S-rivalling sedanThe next-generation BMW i4 sedan, due in 2021, will produce 390kW and be capable of up to 600km between ranges, confirmed the German car-maker.
Set to arrive after the battery-powered iX3 SUV, the four-door BMW i4 'coupe' has been created to be a direct rival for the Tesla Model S and is claimed to herald a "new era of driving pleasure", hinting that as well as its US opposition it could also target the new Porsche Taycan.
Releasing new images of the i4 undergoing winter testing, the future pure-electric BMW sedan will feature the car-maker's next-generation twin-motor eDrive system that will be previewed on the 2020 iX3 and also be used in the futuristic iNext SUV (below) that will be on sale by 2021.
In the i4, BMW says it will churn out 390kW, which should provide for a 0-100km/h time of less than four seconds. The top speed, meanwhile, will be more than 200km/h.
That power output, BMW claims, was chosen so the i4 would match the might of some of its current V8 engines.
Said to blend "outstanding performance characteristics and exceptionally high efficiency", the novel eDrive powertrain is said to be developed to be modular and combines an electric motor, transmission and control module in a single casing.
Powering the i4 is an 80kWh lithium-ion battery that weighs in at around 550kg and is said to provide for a range of around 600km.
The battery is said to be capable of being topped up at a rate of up to 150kW with a 0-80 per cent charge taking just 35 minutes, with a six-minute charge providing for a range of 100km.
From our latest glimpse of the i4, BMW's first pure-electric sedan is set to share much of its styling with the next 4 Series Gran Coupe, although the Tesla fighter will feature a raised ride height and larger body, in part, to balance out the large battery pack that lifts the floor height.
Instead of a bespoke architecture, the new i4 is set to share the same CLAR platform as the latest G20 BMW 3 Series, meaning the zero-emissions sedan will run along the same production line as petrol and diesel-powered models.
Soon after the i4's launch a cheaper version with a 300km range is also set to be offered.
BMW said that by 2020 it plans to sell 500,000 electrified vehicles annually. Last year it shifted 31,482 battery-powered cars, led by the i3.
By 2023 the BMW Group says it will have 25 electrified models in its line-up.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
