The veil has just been lifted on the BMW
Concept i4 after a recent leak, previewing the production-ready i4 slated to
reach the production line in 2021. Found at the heart of the Concept i4 is the
company’s fifth-generation eDrive technology also set to be introduced by the
iNext and iX3. Power is provided by an electric motor delivering a total of 530
hp and paired with a high-voltage battery pack using the marque’s latest
battery cell technology. Capacity for the battery sits at around 80 kWh,
allowing the vehicle to travel 600 km on a single charge across the
WLTP cycle.
The exterior design of the Concept i4 is
thought to be quite representative of what the road-going model will look like.
Adorning the exterior is a Frozen Light Copper paint borrowed from the BMW
Vision iNext while blue accents are also found in areas of the front fascia,
flanks, and rear. While the vehicle is all-electric, it features
similarly-large front kidney grilles to the controversial BMW Concept 4 from
last year although they are now blanked off.
Elsewhere, BMW has created a set of
distinctive wheels for the Concept i4 that are designed to be both light and
aerodynamically efficient, helping to add to the car’s range. At the rear, the
vehicle features slim L-shaped rear lights and vertical air outlets created to
emphasize the car’s sporting stance. There is also an intriguing split rear
diffuser where you’d ordinarily expect to find tailpipes on an ICE-powered car.
As for the interior, it is rather
futuristic but provides us with a good idea of what customers of the i4 will be
able to enjoy. Most notable is a curved display that houses both the digital
instrument cluster and the infotainment system. This display incorporates
non-reflective glass, eliminating the need for an ugly shroud to protect it
from the sun and allowing users to always clearly see both screens, regardless
of the lighting conditions. Adding to the high-end feel of the cabin is an
iDrive controller and seat memory buttons made from crystal.
Most of the cabin is clad in a combination
of light-colored cloth and leather and accented with Gold Bronze elements,
including across the dashboard, door panels, and three-spoke steering wheel.
The concept is a strict four-seater with two seats at the rear rather than a
more traditional bench seat.
BMW has also spent a considerable amount
of time tailoring a special sound profile into the Concept i4 to give the EV an
emotional appeal. Under the brand name BMW IconicSounds Electric and developed
by world-renowned composer Hans Zimmer, the system will emit different sounds
depending on what driving mode is selected.
Speaking of driving modes, the Concept i4
includes ‘Core’, ‘Sport’, and ‘Efficient.’ The road-going BMW i4 will be built
at BMW’s main plant in Munich from next year. BMW has invested roughly 200
million euros (US$ 222 million) to get this site ready for the i4. Approximately
90 per cent of existing production equipment at the site can be adapted to
manufacture the i4 but the remaining 10 per cent will require new machinery to
be built.
