The best way to receive your new BMW
Eight months after unveiling the i4, BMW has finally begun delivery of its first all-electric sedan at the renowned BMW Welt in Munich. As you may already know, BMW customers in Europe can opt to collect their new vehicles there and depending on the package, they also get to experience a briefing and handover of the vehicle as well as visit the BMW Museum and plant located across the street. Seen here is former Miss Universe contestant Celene Willers with her newly acquired i4 in Alpine White.
Developed to give Tesla Model S a run for its money, the i4 is offered in two flavours – the ‘base’ i4 eDrive40 and the full-blown i4 M50. The former has a single electric motor driving the rear axle, making it a rear-wheel drive model. The motor, which is part of the automaker’s fifth-generation eDrive technology, generates 340 PS and 430 Nm of torque. Performance-wise, it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 190 km/h.
Meanwhile, the i4 M50 features a twin electric motor setup that makes a maximum output of 544 PS and 795 Nm of torque, enough to send the first BMW M electric car sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. Its top speed is electronically limited to 225 km/h.
Both variants come with the same 83.9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that packs enough juice to enable the eDrive40 to cover a distance of 590 km. Being the performance-oriented variant, the M50 range is slightly lower at 510 km. As for charging, the i4 supports up to 200 kW DC fast-charging that can recover as much as 164 km of range in 10 minutes.
According to BMW, the i4 is available with up to 40 driver assistance systems. These include Front-collision warning, Speed Limit Info and Lane Departure Warning, which are standard, and optional items like Active Cruise Control with automatic Speed Limit Assist, Driving Assistant Professional, Parking Assistant with Reversing Assistant and more.
To enhance driving experience, customers can also get the BMW IconicSounds Electric which enables integration of new sound variants created as part of a collaboration with film music composer Hans Zimmer.
