BMW unveiled their first fully electric Safety Car in the form of the i4 M50, which will support MotoGP’s FIM Enel MotoE World Cup electric motorcycle series replacing the hybrid BMW i8. As a reminder, the M50 is the first electric car from BMW M as the performance variant of the i4. It is fitted with two electric motors producing 536 hp and up to 795 Nm of torque for a few seconds when in Sport mode. Power is transmitted to all four wheels, allowing for a 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. This will be fast enough to lead a pack of electric superbikes while the standard 83.9 kWh battery will provide sufficient juice to cover several hot laps, given that its WLTP range is expected to be around 510 km.
Besides the necessary light bar on the roof and the additional lights inside the large kidney grille, the i4 M50 Safety Car features a redesigned livery. This consists of fluorescent green graphics on matte gray paint, with accents on the signature light blue, dark blue, and red M colors. It also has a few decals from sponsors and the phrase “Born Electric In M Town” on the front fenders.
For those who are not familiar with electric two-wheeler races, the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup was launched in 2019 as part of the MotoGP world championship using Energica motorcycles. BMW’s latest safety car will premiere on the 15th of August at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg and appear in all of the remaining races of the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup. As for the market launch of the BMW i4 M50, it is scheduled for November.
The i4 M50 is not the first fully electric Safety Car from BMW Group, as this title goes to the MINI Electric Pacesetter unveiled in March 2021 for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
