BMW i4 teased as EV's development nears end
Bavarian car-maker's EV sedan on track for 2021 debut as late-stage prototype teasedBMW has teased the all-new BMW i4 pure-electric sedan and confirmed it is on track for its launch in 2021.
The car-maker posted a short clip showing what looks to be a late-stage prototype receiving some "finishing calibrations".
The company has previously revealed that the standard version of the BMW i4 will produce around 390kW of power and have a range of up to 600km.
In the clip, the development car looks a lot less dramatic than the original BMW i4 four-door coupe concept, which indicates that the production version will closely resemble the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, instead of something more visually arresting.
Designed to compete with the Tesla Model S and the Porsche Taycan, BMW has already announced the i4 will be quick, hitting 100km/h from standstill in less than four seconds on its way to a top speed of more than 200km/h.
If that's not fast enough, an even more powerful BMW M version is also set to join the range.
BMW M has confirmed the higher-performance model, which is set to provide a 400kW/800Nm-plus punch, will also arrive in 2021.
Both the regular BMW i4 and the i4 M are set to be class-leading for their drive, the car-maker claims, thanks in part to the new eDrive powertrain that combines an electric motor, transmission and control module in a single casing.
It's believed the M version will feature at least two eDrive units in pursuit of the power needed for it to be considered a true M car.
Powering the BMW 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 claimed 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. A six-minute charge provides for a range of 100km.
Instead of a bespoke architecture, the new BMW 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.
The third i model from BMW after the i3 and the i8 will replace the stillborn i5. To be built at BMW’s flagship Munich HQ factory, the i4 will be more conventional than any i-car before it.
It's thought BMW could unveil the i4 as soon as the first quarter of 2021, with deliveries set to begin later in the year.
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