Tesla may reign supreme in the electric
vehicle market, but the arrival of Porsche’s deservedly hyped Taycan gave the
Model S its first taste of competition last year. And now BMW is ready to get
in on the action and challenge both marques with its new, all-electric Concept
i4 sedan.
One of a slew of exciting new vehicles unveiled via livestreams and press releases in the wake of the Geneva International Motor Show’s cancellation, the Concept i4 is a peek at the German automaker’s electric future. But unlike so many other concepts, the forward-thinking four-door will actually make its way to the road in the very near future.
Given that this concept is BMW’s first
major go at a fully electric vehicle, the bulk of the attention is sure to be
focused on the powertrain. And the early signs, at least based on what BMW has
told us, are promising. The i4 will be powered by a 530 hp motor placed in the
rear axle. Getting its juice from an 80kWh battery pack, the powertrain will
allow the car to go from 0-to-60 mph in just four seconds and reach a top speed
of 125 mph.
Of course, this is an EV, so range may be
even more important than speed. BMW claims the i4 will be able to drive 270
miles on a single charge, which is close to the 278-mile range of the standard
Tesla Model S and much better than the 201 miles offered by the Taycan. The
sedan’s onboard charger also promises 150-kW fast-charging capability, meaning
you’ll be able to charge the battery to 80 percent in 35 minutes.
Beyond its specs, the Concept i4 is also
pretty easy on the eyes. While the production version will look slightly
different than what the automaker unveiled on Tuesday, we now have a pretty
good idea of what to expect. The sedan definitely looks like a BMW, but with an
elongated hood, softer edges and sleeker lines that give it something of a
sportier shape. The boldest changes may be the huge front kidney grille, which
is offset with electric blue accents, sharp LED headlights and a newly reworked
Roundel logo that forgoes the black of the current design.
Inside the car is a spacious,
driver-focused cockpit that might be the most cutting-edge aspect of the
vehicle. The instrument panel has been replaced with a large touchscreen
monitor that curves towards the driver and doubles as its infotainment system.
Elsewhere in the wide-open interior, you’ll find a yoke-like steering wheel,
bronze accents, sustainable materials and fabrics covering everything from the
seats to the door panels and lighting elements that can be programmed to meet
the driver’s and passengers’ personal needs.
Of course, the most exciting aspect of the
i4 Concept is that it will actually be a real car. The production version is at
the forefront of BMW’s promise to offer 25 hybrid and electric models to
consumers by 2023. Expect a slightly more restrained version of the i4 to go on
sale sometime next year. Let the competition begin.
