BMW has announced a number of updates to its 2024 lineup in the USA, which center around a new all-wheel-drive version of the i4 electric sports sedan and a further expansion of the 7-Series line with more electrified options on offer. BMW will also be introducing an updated version of its Operating System, which will be available on certain models starting in July.
The 2024 BMW i4 will now be available in
xDrive40 trim, becoming the second all-wheel drive option in the i4 range. It’s
positioned below the M Performance i4 M50 but offers a decent turn of speed
thanks to the dual electric motor setup, putting out 396 hp and 600 Nm of torque. The new variant can get up to 96
km/h in 4.9 seconds, which is 0.6 seconds quicker than the two-wheel drive,
single-motor i4 eDrive40. It’s still not a patch on the top-of-the-line M50,
though, which can rocket to 96 km/h in just 3.7 seconds.
In terms of range, the i4 xDrive40 can
manage 494 km with its 18-inch aero wheels, although that drops to 454 km if you treat yourself to the 19-inch upgrade (all according
to BMW’s estimates that are based on the EPA test procedure). The range
estimate is roughly the same as that found on the single-motor version, despite
having the same lithium-ion battery with a net usable energy content of 80.7
kWh. U.S. deliveries will commence in the third quarter of 2023, while the 2024
BMW i4 xDrive40 will start at a base MSRP of US$ 61,600 plus a US$ 995 destination
and handling charge, meaning it sits between the US$ 57,100 i4 eDrive40 and the US$ 68,700 i4 M50.
On the luxury flagship front, BMW has
expanded the 7-Series lineup further soon after the introduction of the i7 M70
xDrive. Two new hybrid offerings will debut for the 2024 model year in the form
of the 750e xDrive and the BMW i7 eDrive50. Plus, the 740i gets an xDrive
version in addition to the two-wheel drive version already on sale. The US$ 107,000 (plus US$ 995 destination) 750e xDrive may be a new addition to the U.S.
market, but it’s been available in Europe since late 2022. The plug-in hybrid
features a 308-hp TwinPower Turbo 3.0-liter 6-cylinder
coupled with a transmission-mounted 194-hp electric motor. The
result is a maximum system output of 483 hp and 700 Nm of torque, with a pure-electric range of 51 km.
The i7 eDrive50 will be the third i7
offered to U.S. customers. It ditches the dual-motor all-wheel drive layout
found in the xDrive60 and M70 and settles on a rear-wheel drive single-motor
setup. Range and performance figures are yet to be announced, but this version
of the i7 will start at US$ 105,700 plus a US$ 995 destination and handling fee.
Finally, 2024 will see the addition of all-wheel drive to the 740i. With all
four wheels powered, the 740i xDrive’s 0–96 km/h time drops from 5.1
seconds to 4.9 while pricing will start at US$ 99,400 plus US$ 995 destination.
