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.