The Tesla Model 3 continues to be the best-selling
premium vehicle in the United States, but BMW is preparing to fire back with
their upcoming i4. Recently caught undergoing hot weather testing, the model is
essentially an electric version of the 4-Series Gran Coupe. However, the cars
aren’t exactly the same as the i4 adopts a fully enclosed grille which will
likely echo the one used on the iX3 and iNext concepts.
Moving further back, the car has slender headlights
and a sculpted hood. We can also see flowing bodywork and fake door handles.
The decoys reside above the actual door handles and it appears owners will need
to stick their fingers inside a small recess to open the doors. The setup seems
a bit odd, especially when retractable door handles are becoming more common.
The i4 has a sloping roof which
flows into a rear liftgate. The model also has an integrated rear spoiler and a
curvaceous rear bumper with fake exhaust tips. More notably, the i4 has an
increased ride height that gives the car a bit of a Volvo S60 Cross Country
vibe. We can also see what appears to be an aluminum support or bracket
underneath the side skirts.
While the exterior styling will be unique, previous
spy photos have shown the cabin will largely carryover from the 3-Series. This
means we can expect a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch
infotainment system.
BMW hasn’t said much about the i4, but the company
has previously referred to the model as a four-door coupe that will compete in
the premium midrange segment. The car will go into production in 2021 and be
able to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.0 seconds. It will also have a top speed in excess of 200 km/h. More importantly, BMW has confirmed the electric vehicle
will have a range in excess of 600 km in the WLTP test cycle.
