S02E05 The right size: BMW i4
Once again, I’m introducing a car that is no longer new to the market, as it was introduced three years ago. I’m talking about the BMW i4, which is one of the few mid-sized sedans available on the market.
Electric car manufacturers took two different paths back in the day: some started from scratch, building entirely new platforms for their electric cars, while others converted existing cars originally designed for petrol/diesel powertrains, integrating batteries and electric motors. After introducing the unique i8 and i3 many years ago, BMW decided to take the conservative route with their classic D-segment sedan, converting the already successful 4 Series Gran Coupe into an electric car. (Why not the 3 Series Sedan or the Touring? Unfortunately I don’t know, although I could easily imagine the latter.)
The result is a completely normal, livable-sized car, 4783 mm long with a 2856 mm wheelbase. The car is very beautiful on its own, but it looked especially good in this color, frozen Portimao blue. (Finally, colorful cars are starting to come back into fashion!) The interior and trunk space are also entirely adequate (as we’ve come to expect from sibling models), with the only downside being the car’s weight, which is significantly higher than necessary. The i4 is well over two tons, making it 3-400 kg heavier than the similarly sized Tesla Model 3 , depending on equipment and motorization.
In 2025, BMW plans to produce its Neue Klasse (New Class) models. The previous approach, designed for internal combustion engines but also accommodating electric powertrains, is being replaced by a platform designed for a fundamentally electric system but also fitted with a conventional drivetrain. In addition, BMW is changing its approach to battery technology, design, production technology, and raw materials. Neue Klasse models will be equipped with an 800-volt electric drive system with a chargeable output of 350 kilowatts. Production of the Neue Klasse models would start in 2025 at BMW’s factory in Debrecen, Hungary, which is currently under construction.
The tested model is an i4 eDrive 40, equipped with the larger (net 81.3 kWh) battery pack, rear-wheel drive, and a moderately powerful (340 hp) engine. I think this is the most practical choice; the eDrive 35 has a much shorter range, and the M50 is unnecessarily powerful. The interior may be familiar from any relative, with minimal differences compared to the 3 and 4 Series BMWs. Anyone accustomed to BMWs will feel at home immediately; everything is at hand, and all controls work intuitively. Although the car’s own navigation system is excellent (and very beautiful!), I still prefer smartphone mirroring. The connection was established in no time and worked well throughout the test.
The car’s handling is also typically BMW; the engineers paid attention to maintaining the brand’s sporty identity when tuning the suspension. I’m sure that if I had been blindfolded and placed in the car, I would have felt I was in a BMW at the first turn of the steering wheel. The 340 hp performance is more than enough, with acceleration comparable to sports cars from a few decades ago. So the car is comfortable, drives well, and performs well, but how does it consume energy, and how is it to charge?
I had concerns about consumption because, despite the excellent 0.24 drag coefficient, the 2125 kg curb weight is not insignificant. I got roughly what I expected: 16-17 kWh in the city, 18.5 kWh on mixed roads and highways, and 21 kWh at a steady 130 km/h on the highway per 100 km. This means you can confidently count on a 350 km range on a long trip, after which most people will want a break.
DC charging is quite fast, with a maximum charging speed of 207 kW, taking 27 minutes to go from 10% to 80%. On an AC charger – as an optional feature – the car can handle 22 kW, so it takes less than 4 hours to fully charge an empty battery at the office or a shopping mall. When fully charged, the car always predicts the range based on previous usage, so BMW doesn’t try to make you believe the otherwise impressive 600 km WLTP range during a highway trip.
The driving experience is further enhanced by the well-known BMW app, which works excellently with the i4. Locking/unlocking, charging, software updates – I had the opportunity to try everything, and everything worked perfectly. It seems that after an initial lag, traditional car manufacturers are starting to catch up with the new players – and there are plenty of those.
I recommend the i4 to those who prefer traditional-shaped and everyday-sized cars – like me – rather than SUVs, and who insist on the comfort and feel provided by German premium manufacturers. The car doesn’t cost too much more than a similarly equipped and motorized 3 Series or 4 Series BMW. By the way, the facelifted version of the i4 is already available for order, which I hope to introduce in a later test.
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In the meantime, a real rarity, an electric station wagon will follow next week, the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer. Check back here next week!
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Disclaimer: opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer and are not supported by any OEMs.
Midwest Region Manager at Shell Fleet Solutions | Enhancing Fleet Efficiency | Delivering Customized Fuel Management Solutions
1 个月Fun read and car. Here's hoping we always have sedans!