The BMW Group Annual Conference was just concluded a couple of days ago, and the main highlight of the event was certainly the unveiling of the upcoming BMW i4.
The BMW i4 is a fully electric 4 door Gran Coupé and will enter the market during the course of 2021, including a BMW M Performance model. BMW claims that the i4’s refined balance of BMW typical sportiness; comfort and sustainable performance are unique in its segment.
590km range
The BMW i4 model line will be available in different versions covering ranges of up to 590km (WLTP) and up to 482 km (EPA). With a power output of up to 530hp, the BMW i4 can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in around 4 seconds.
Further complementing the powertrain is a model-specific damper technology that reduces the dipping movements of the body at the moment of set-off, while the actuator-related wheel slip limitation (ARB) developed by BMW guarantees optimum traction and perfect straight-line stability at all times – even on slippery road surfaces.
Other key features include its spontaneous reactions to every movement – not just of the accelerator pedal but also of the steering and the brake pedal. The prerequisites for this high level of agility and precision are anchored in the underlying vehicle concept of the BMW i4.
This includes the car’s long wheelbase, wide track widths, model-specific camber values, large wheels, as well as the high torsional rigidity and the vehicle’s low centre of gravity and weight balance.
Just as sharp
In addition to its neutral self-steering behaviour and its powerful, precisely controllable brakes, the steering in the BMW i4 responds directly and with a high degree of accuracy, offering the driver precise feedback at all times while remaining entirely independent of drive forces, even during intensive acceleration or deceleration.
Lane changes at high speeds are mastered with ease, while relaxed driving over long distances is ensured by the speed-related Servotronic power steering and the fact that the vehicle is largely insusceptible to any disruption caused by road bumps.
Fitted with a high-voltage storage system featuring the latest battery cell technology that enables a range of up to 600 kilometres (WLTP), the chassis technology of the BMW i4 is designed for long-distance comfort, too. It is based on the high-quality damper technology, supplemented with model-specific components and separately tuned.
Just as fun
“With its sporty looks, best in class driving dynamics and zero local emissions, the BMW i4 is a true BMW. It makes the heart of the BMW brand now beat fully electric,” said Pieter Nota, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Customer, Brands, Sales.
“For the first time, we’ve developed a BMW with sporty DNA for purely electric driving entirely from scratch,” explains project manager David Alfredo Ferrufino Camacho.
The folks at Munich also said that the biggest challenge during the development phase of the i4 was integrating the application of all drive and suspension components, ensuring that the spontaneous power delivery of the electric motor is combined with precisely controllable handling in every situation, optimised traction in all weather and road conditions, and perfectly balanced ride comfort.
That being said, more details about the BMW i4 will be revealed in the near future, so watch this space for more news from Munich.
