In parallel with the flagship SUV the iX, which we also tested on long distance, BMW has been launching the i4.
Sheer driving pleasure – that’s what you get with the all-electric BMW i4 M50. And besides you are on the road in a sustainable way. We highly enjoyed driving the i4. Sportiness and comfort are perfectly combined in here. The sportiness was further emphasised by the distinctive driving sound. Oscar-prize winner Hans Zimmer and Renzo Vitale, Creative Director Sound at BMW Group worked together on creating this distinctive driving sound for electric vehicles of the BMW M-Series.
Driving sounds for EVs serve a dual purpose: to alert pedestrians and to convey characteristics such as power and speed to the driver. And in case you didn’t know: with the introduction of a new law on 1 July 2019, all new Evs have to make a sound at speeds up to 20 km per hour, when going forward or reversing.

The BMW i4 M50 is the first-ever BEV from BMW M. It has sporty proportions with Gran Coupé character. It features all-wheel drive and can deliver up to 400 kW/544 hp. So the acceleration is pretty nice – from zero to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. Top speed is 225 km/h and range up to 504 km (according to WLTP and for the i4 M50). But with the adaptive recuperation system during coasting and braking you will have a greater electric range.

The BMW i4 M50 offers three different driving modes: Eco Pro, Comfort and Sport. When driving in the Sport mode, the full sound experience unfolds with a dominant sound conveying power and speed. However when driving in the Eco mode, the distinctive sound won’t be there as BMW wants to convey efficiency. With the change of the mode not only the response of the drive changes, also the display graphics and colours.

Experience with us the BMW i4 M50 in our short video.

The interior of the BMW i4 is very modern and clear. The dashboard is slim and flat, and emphasises the modern look. The five-seater offers plenty of space. The high centre console provides a sporty seating experience and defines a separate area for the driver and front passenger. Besides you’ll find the driver-oriented cockpit in the i4 with the curved widescreen monitor. Just like the iX, the i4 is equipped with the new generation of iDrive including the BMW Operating System 8, which makes everything even more intuitive – simply much smarter. The left screen for the driver has a diagonal of 12.3 inches and displays all driving-relevant information. The right part even measures 14.9 inches and serves as the infotainment centre. It can be controlled either via voice interaction, touch commands or with the controller. The software is kept up to date via over-the-air updates.

The BMW i4 is built in the plant in Munich. The newly developed electric motor does not require any rare earths and cobalt and lithium for the high-voltage battery are obtained sustainably. The production at the plant in Munich as well as the battery cell manufacturing are being carried out by using 100% green electricity.

The i4 comes in two versions: the i4 eDrive40 and the i4 M50. Prices start at 59.200 euros for the base model (before deduction of the current purchase premium for electric cars), the latter starts at 70.800 €. According to WLTP, the i4 has a range of up to 578 km (i4 eDrive40). But if you want to reach that, you should not drive too agile. The adaptive and individually adjustable recuperation contributes to an improvement in range and also performance. In drive mode B, the one-pedal drive system is automatically activated with the highest recuperation level. More information and data on the range, could we only provide after a more extensive test of the i4. The M variant, which we had, that stands out with sportier aprons, an adaptive M suspension, variable sports steering, M sports brakes and up to 20-inch wheels.

Summarised: we highly enjoyed driving the BMW i4 M50. We like the sporty yet clean look and are impressed by the drive sound of the electric car. The i4 offers comfort, plenty of space and pure driving pleasure.

Pictures: BMW / Fabian Kirchbauer for ellectric
Text: Britta Reineke