It won’t be too long now before the BMW i4 goes on sale in India as the Bavarian brand will take the covers off the all-electric sedan on April 28. It’ll be the third electric BMW Group model after the iX flagship SUV and the MINI Cooper SE hatchback to be launched in the country.
The i4 is basically what you get when you electrify a 4 Series Gran Coupe. While it looks largely similar to its internal combustion-engined counterpart, the i4 gets its EV identity thanks to a closed-off front grille, aero alloy wheels, blue accents, and door handles integrated into the recess.
Inside, you’re treated to a clean, minimalistic dashboard and features all of BMW’s latest bells and whistles. This includes a twin-screen setup comprising a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system utilising BMW’s latest i-Drive 8 user interface. The new OS comes with a range of digital and personalization features that can be controlled via touch inputs or voice commands.
The big difference between the i4 and the 4 Series Gran Coupe is under the hood of course. Internationally, the i4 is offered in two variants: eDrive 40 (RWD) and M50 (AWD). Here’s the detailed technical specifications of each trim:
Technical Specifications | BMW i4 eDrive40 | BMW i4 M50 |
Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
Power (PS) | 344PS | 551PS |
0-100kmph | 5.7 seconds | 3.9 seconds |
Range (WLTP-claimed) | Up to 590km | Up to 510km |
Battery Capacity | 83.9kWh* | 83.9kWh* |
The i4’s also got some interesting performance trickery, with the centre of gravity being 53mm lower than the 3 Series due to the battery pack’s low positioning, which should help in corner-carving. The Add-on adaptive suspension, a quicker steering rack, and optional 20-inch alloy wheels, and the i4 should be pretty handy around a race track. When it comes to juicing it up, the i4 can handle fast charging, with up to 164km of range being replenished within 10 minutes using a 200kW DC fast charger.
Considering that the BMW i4 will debut in India on April 28, expect the carmaker to launch it by May at prices starting from Rs 80 lakh. While it doesn’t have a direct rival in India at the moment, it’ll have company soon in the form of the Tesla Model 3.
