BMW gunning for Tesla with newly revealed 590km i4 sedan

BMW has finally unveiled its new fully electric i4 sedan in full, detailing the futuristic new model overnight at its 2021 Media Day event.

The German firm had already debuted an i4 concept last year, and the vast majority of that concept’s design features have remained — the model using similar lines and proportions to its internal combustion 4-Series cousin, but with two extra doors and a selection of hints that an electric powertrain resides underneath.

Most of the i4’s design is reserved and refined, following somewhat classic four-door-coupe lines that BMW helped pioneer. Like past BMW i cars, it gets a series of blue highlights denoting its position as an electrified car. And, yes, that big bold grille is back and it’s solid with no perforations.

The big news from the launch are a handful of technical details that BMW released, namely concerning range. The most powerful variant is set to offer a combined 390kW of power and a 0–100km/h time of less than four seconds. Range is rated at up to 590km per charge — placing the model firmly in Tesla territory.

Sadly BMW is keeping mum on a range of other i4 elements. These include the interior, of which no photographs were released, and just what powertrain format and how big a battery lies underneath the panels.

Nevertheless, it’s expected that the model will utilise BMW’s newly unveiled iDrive 8 interface, which runs through a 14.9-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital cluster behind the steering wheel.

“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.