Cheaper BMW i4 eDrive35 unveiled

A new entry-level version of the 2022 BMW i4 Gran Coupe electric sedan has been announced for Europe and Canada, lowering the admission price of the German brand’s rival for the Tesla Model 3 – Australia’s top-selling EV.

Positioned below the BMW i4 eDrive40 and the flagship BMW i4 M50, the new rear-wheel drive BMW i4 eDrive35 comes equipped with a less powerful 210kW/400Nm electric motor.

Despite packing less punch, the cheapest i4 can still launch from zero to 100km/h in six seconds, making it just 0.3sec slower to 100km/h than the 250kW/430Nm i4 eDrive40.

Instead of the more expensive i4 eDrive40's 80.7kWh battery pack, the cheaper i4 makes do with a smaller 66kWh lithium-ion battery that provides for a range of up to 490km on the WLTP cycle.

It’s capable of being charged at up to 180kW and BMW says a 10-80 per cent charge takes 32 minutes – around the same time as the pricier versions.

Within the cabin, despite its lower price point, the i4 eDrive35 comes with the same 14.9-inch curved infotainment system as the rest of the i4 range.

There's no word on whether or not BMW Australia plans to import the cheaper i4 eDrive35, nor how cheaply it could sell it here.

However, the 2022 BMW i4 eDrive40 range currently kicks off at $99,900 plus on-road costs for the rear-drive i4 eDrive40 – a significant premium over the entry-level Tesla Model 3 RWD ($65,500 plus ORCs), as well as the Long Range ($80,000) and Performance ($91,600) all-wheel drive variants of the popular mid-size electric sedan.

For everything you auto know about EVs, listen to carsales' Watts Under the Bonnet: the electric car podcast

Join the conversation at 

our Facebook page

Or email us at 

editor@carsales.com.au