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| © Illustration by Ben Summerell-Youde/Fox Syndication - Car and Driver The 2022 BMW i4 is a new electric sports sedan with all-wheel drive that will challenge the Tesla Model 3. |
By Jens Meiners, Car and Driver
- BMW is working on an electric sedan called the i4 that will be a competitor to the Tesla Model 3.
- Based on the same platform as the 3-series and 4-series, the i4 will likely have two electric motors providing all-wheel drive and an electric driving range of up to 350 miles.
- Look for the i4 to arrive in 2021 with a starting price around $50,000.
The upcoming BMW i4 is a fully electric sports sedan, a low-slung
four-door fitted with one or two motors. It promises to be the closest
competitor yet to the Tesla Model 3, with the added benefit of having the build quality of a seasoned carmaker.
The i4 won't get its own EV platform: but will instead be based on
the 3-/4-series' underpinnings known as the Cluster Architecture, or
CLAR. While a one-motor version is conceivable, we expect the i4 to have
two motors providing standard all-wheel drive. Expect BMW to offer
several power and price levels. The largest battery should last about
350 miles between charges and put up zero-to-60 times in the four-second
range. Top speed will likely be governed at a low 125 mph to save
juice.
The Bavarians were wide of the mark with their last attempt
to jump-start the EV era. Both of BMW's carbon-fiber battery-powered
early adopters, the lunchbox i3 and the plug-in i8 pseudo-supercar, were
very cool but a little too weird for most people. With premium appeal,
practicality, and affordability, the i4 will attempt to put BMW back on
track. Spy photos of the i4 show a fairly conventional shape similar to that of the current 4-series Gran Coupe, and the styling will be inspired by the i Vision Dynamics concept from 2017.
Set to arrive in 2021 as a 2022 model, the i4 is likely to start around $50,000.
