The German establishment is preparing to come after
the Tesla Model 3 and shortly after we heard word about an impending Audi
rival, a report has surfaced indicating BMW is coming to steal the Model 3’s
thunder.
Autocar reports that the automaker is currently
preparing a 4-Series GT using the same underpinnings as the upcoming
eighth-generation 3-Series. To ensure it can take the fight to Tesla’s
entry-level sedan, BMW intends on making it as fast as the current 335d GT
while also ensuring a range of up to 500 km, significantly more
than the Model 3.
BMW is thought to be considering two different
options to power the all-electric 4-Series. The first would see the fitment of
a front-mounted electric motor working with an electric propeller shaft and a
fixed-ratio gearbox sending power to the rear wheels.
Alternatively, there’s a chance the car could use
both front-mounted and rear-mounted electric motors to offer a choice between
front and all-wheel drive modes. If BMW is serious about achieving a 300+ mile
range, battery capacity will inevitably be around 90 kWh, unless advances in
battery technology allow that figure to drop.
When the new 4-Series GT lands in 2019, it will also
be available in petrol and plug-in hybrid guises.
