Whether you want a fat six-in-line in the front of your BMW 4 Series, maybe even a diesel because you're hardcore, a compromise in the form of a hybrid or still prefer an all-electric powertrain, anything is possible. MASTERS hit the road with the cleanest of the bunch, the i4. In other words, the electric variant.Text: Werner Budding
Online editing: Mical Joseph
Image: BMWNo, you don't really recognize the 4 Series, among its fossil-fueled brothers in the same body shape. Unless you get exuberant and discover that the i4 has no exhausts. A neatly clean rear end. Somewhat suggestively, BMW's design boss Adrian van Hooydonk has added chrome bezels; the non-expert might recognize them as exhaust nozzles. But then again, why be ashamed of your choice? BMW may have let the cat out of the tree where electric cars are concerned, but now the Bavarian car club is launching one EV after another. No, we haven't forgotten about the i3. Indeed: as an electric city racer, the i3 still more than satisfies.
Up a digit, from i3 to i4. It seems like a small step, but it is a giant leap. The technology of the i4 has always been wrapped in the beautiful Gran Coupé body. In other words, the familiar BMW mix, between coupe and sedan. For now, there are two versions of the electric sports sedan to choose from. The basic variant, the i4 eDrive40, costs a good sixty grand; the chunky sports EV with the designation i4 M50 may go away for over ten thousand euros extra. The differences are significant and excellently explained. If you are looking for the most generous range, then you should go for the i4 eDrive40. With a little good will, you will scurry towards the 600 kilometers of driving range, at least according to the official legal factory specification.
But suppose you want more. Not only do you want to utilize the ever-present power from the electric powertrain as desired, but you also want even more precision in the steering, more rigidity in the body, violently gripping brakes. Basically, you just want the M experience in your electric sedan. Then sit back and enjoy it in the i4 M50. There are more automakers capable of delivering a lot of power in an electric model. But the art is in the overall experience, the engagement in driving and the maximum control as you take the EV to its limit. The decades of experience at BMW M Motorsport in improving models that were already good anyway, it has led to the most sporty electric car today: the BMW i4 M50. Thick reinforcements between the front struts, a set of brakes you can say hello to, string-tight steering and plenty of available speed. Because where the i4 eDrive40 with its 340 hp is anything but a wretch in terms of power, the M50 pushes no less than 544 hp toward the wheels. A decade ago these were figures that belonged to a super sports car, now you will find the numbers belonging to a neat efficient electric sedan. By the way, don't be afraid that it's just madness in the i4 M50. Because many things in this type of car are electronically controlled, such as the steering, damping, powertrain, yes even the acoustics, you can adjust everything to taste.
Read the entire BMW car report? The spring issue of MASTERS celebrates regained freedom after two years of corona. Its value is underlined by developments in Eastern Europe, where the freedom of an entire people is at stake. We live in a new reality, but we can plan again, eat out, meet people. The world is turning again! Only: which way? Time for new bridges, new initiatives. To which this edition of MASTERS offers inspiration.
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