BMW has completed the conversion of its Munich
plant in Germany right on schedule, preparing it for the assembly of the i4.
The birthplace of the ICE- and hybrid-powered 3-Series Sedan and Touring, the
factory, which was inaugurated back in 1922, will also make the new generation
M3 that’s due this year alongside the new M4.
Production of the i4 will be carried out
on the existing bodyshop, but several others had to be installed for the floor
and rear section assembly, as well as the electric drive and high-voltage
battery. The latter alone weighs approximately 550 kg (1,213 lbs), and will be
attached to the body by a fully automated system that uses cameras to check
whether it is correctly aligned.
Expected to be unveiled before the end of
2020, the i4 will use two electric motors that will generate a total output of
around 523 HP, or 49 and 20 HP more
than the 2021 M3 in base and Competition variants, respectively. The
zero-emission sedan should do the 0-100 km/h sprint in around 4
seconds, while the estimated driving range with the 80 kWh battery pack fully
charged should be around 600 km.
