BMW has finally revealed they will begin production on a new electric vehicle (EV) next year, the i4 was to be introduced at the Geneva Motor Show. The i4’s exterior looks like a modern-day muscle car and it has the specs to perform like one.
Heading into the future BMW plans on using the fifth-generation BMW eDrive electric powertrain for the BMW i4 in 2021. The i4 is equipped with 80kWh of advanced battery cell technology which will have a long-range of around 600 kilometers (372 miles), with the real-world range being around 300-320 miles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZumk8qqA_c
The i4’s electric motor will produce an impressive 530 horsepower and 390 kilowatts. The company press release speaks further about the performance features:
In addition to the sporty, elegant design that is typical of a 4-door coupé of the brand, the BMW i4 is characterized by impressive performance features. The BMW i Brand’s first Gran Coupé accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in around 4.0 seconds, achieving a top speed of more than 200 km/h.
The advanced battery cell technology allows for rapid recharging:
The next-generation charging unit is characterized by a uniform package suitable for all future vehicle architectures. It can be used in plug-in hybrid models as well as in purely electrically powered vehicles and is designed for a charging capacity of up to 150kW. This allows the high-voltage battery of the BMW i4 to be charged to around 80% of its full energy content in around 35 minutes. This results in a charging time of around six minutes for a range of 100 kilometers.
The interior of the vehicle focuses on the driver, with a large curved HD touchscreen spanning halfway across the dash. Head of BMW design, Domagoj Dukec, spoke about the interior of the car:
This screen grouping optimizes presentation of information and makes the display’s touch operation more intuitive. Advanced display tech with non-reflective glass also removes the need for a shroud to shade the displays and therefore contributes to an extremely uncluttered and airy cockpit. The new BMW Curved Display teams up with the steering wheel to reveal a new take on driver orientation and offers a look ahead to the display in the production versions of the BMW iNEXT and BMW i4.
The new integrated BMW screen is going to allow the driver 3 different possible driving experiences by incorporating diverse features and read-outs on the screen:
- The “Core” mode is similar to existing models using widgets, which the driver can move around via drag and drop to display the screen to their personal preferences.
- In “Sport” mode the widgets move closer together focusing the driver’s attention to the center. The on-screen content presentation allows for a peripheral view. In “Sport” the vehicle uses anticipatory driving features that display how tight the next corner is.
- The new “Efficient” mode debuts an “Assisted Driving View” alerting the driver what the vehicle’s sensors are detecting. The right side of the HD screen displays the charge level and the remaining range.
Senior Vice President of BMW Group Design, Adrian van Hooydonk, summed up the new BMW i4 electric car;
The BMW Concept i4 brings electrification to the core of the BMW brand. The design is dynamic, clean, and elegant. In short: a perfect BMW that happens to be zero-emission.
The BMW i4’s combination of tough good looks, powerful 530hp electric engine and advanced technology has me thinking Batman would be proud to drive this zero-emissions beast.
