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Introducing The All New All-Electric BMW i4

Here we are, folks. BMW is adding to its current all-electric i range, today with the i4, which stands to be BMW’s first traditional three-box electric car. In layman’s terms, it’s a saloon, and it holds some boast-worthy numbers.

The most important (and impressive) of these figures being its range. According to tests done to European WLTP standards, the battery will last 373 miles between charges. That’s a fifth more range than the current market leader and puts it damn near the range of a lot of internal combustion cars. A lot of these cars don’t have ‘outstanding sportiness’, though, which BMW assures us this new i4 will.

This new level of performance comes straight from the fifth-generation eDrive technology, which promises to allow the car a high level of comfort despite its ‘inspiring performance’. What is this level of performance, you ask? How does 4 seconds to 62mph sound? And a top speed well over the legal limit at 124mph? According to BMW the car could go faster, but it limited by its single ratio gearbox.

Yeah, that sounds pretty good if you ask me, and I hope they eventually build a wagon over the same chassis. But I’m afraid it’s still quite a way off. Build dates are looking to be around 2021, so that’s a good two years before Munich start spouting out these EV saloons.

Until then, however, we can occupy ourselves with the iX3, which will be pretty much how it sounds: an electric X3. But while this may not tickle many of you enthusiasts, this will be the first car to feature the new eDrive tech. Range won’t be much at about 250 miles, but charging times are looking to be less and less with the new DC 150kW chargers.

After that, and around the same time as the i4, BMW’s iNext SUV will also start being pumped out with a similar range of 373 miles between charges. But with the focus of this car being autonomy, I’m guessing this won’t gain much interest from enthusiasts who are still insistent on the smell of petrol and a gear stick in their hands.

Whatever your interests, BMW is certainly one to watch in what’s going to turn into a very competitive industry. Good luck to them.

Alex Harrington

Alex started racing at a young age so certainly knows his way around a car and a track. He can just about put a sentence together too, which helps. He has a great interest in the latest models, but would throw all of his money at a rusty old French classic and a 300ZX. Contact: [email protected]

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