BMW i4 set to be benchmark for EV handling

BMW has posted a new video of the all-new BMW i4 being driven at the very limit and beyond ahead of the Tesla Model 3 rival's debut later this year.

Close to the final production version, the BMW i4 prototypes that feature in the new film sport the lightest of camouflage.

The road-going version is set to share styling themes with the soon-to-be-launched BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.

According to BMW, when the i4 lands it will have "precisely controllable handling in every situation, fascinating cornering dynamic, optimised traction in all weather and road conditions and perfectly balanced ride comfort”. 

By "fascinating", the car-maker really means being able to hold in lurid drifts, with the battery-powered i4 looking as easy to slide as a fully-fledged BMW M car.

Ensuring the ride remains comfortable, the small electric sedan will also get a new damping system that eliminates the usual pitch or dive under acceleration or during braking.

An "actuator-related wheel slip limitation" system, meanwhile, suggests an advanced new way of using the electric motor to boost traction and stability.

The all-new BMW i4 is set to be unveiled in the coming months ahead of production beginning in the third quarter of 2021. However, first global deliveries of the car-maker's first-ever pure-electric sedan might now push back to early in 2022.

Developed to "herald a new era of driving pleasure", the BMW i4 has been created to set a new benchmark for pure-electric cars when it comes to handling.

Using its fifth-generation eDrive powertrain that neatly combines an electric motor and transmission, plus a control module in the same casing, the new i4 will churn out around 390kW.

That's enough for a sub-4.0sec sprint from rest to 100km/h, although top speed will be limited to around 200km/h.

The biggest obstacle to engineers is overcoming the weight of the i4's 80kWh battery.

While the battery provides a range of 600km and can be charged at a rate of up to 150kW, it tips the scales at a hefty 550kg.

Not helping matters, the clearest look yet of the BMW i4 appears to show the zero-emissions four-door coupe-like sedan will possess a larger body compared to the regular 4 Series.

This could be due to the fact that the i4 uses the same CLAR platform as the latest G20 BMW 3 Series, requiring engineers to raise the floor to accommodate the battery which in turn has led to the raised roofline and more bulbous shape.

The advantage of the CLAR platform is the cost of its development is shared among the petrol and diesel derivatives too, and it means the new battery-powered BMW i4 can be assembled along the same production lines.

Soon after the i4’s launch, a cheaper version with a 300km range is also set to be offered.