NZ Autocar
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Electric
  • Commercial
  • Industry
  • Bikes
  • Classics
  • Motorsport
  • Prices
    • New Car Prices
    • New Bike Prices
  • Subscribe
    • Print
    • Digital
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Advertise
NZ Autocar
No Result
View All Result
Home Electric

BMW unveils its first electric M car, the 405kW i4 M50

by Matthew Hansen
September 23, 2021
BMW unveils its first electric M car, the 405kW i4 M50

After long flirting with the idea of a proper performance-orientated electric car, BMW has done it; unveiling the i4 M50 this morning.

Lining up as something of an M3 electric equivalent, the M50 isn’t actually a fully blown M car. It is however a fairly handy M-Performance model, with a power figure that blows the M3’s digits out of the water.

While the M3 produces 375kW in its Competition variant (the model offered to Kiwi customers), the i4 M50 produces a substantial 405kW of power and is capable of accelerating to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds. 

Dual motors enable the model’s all-wheel drive, and range via the eDrive40 battery unit is rated at 394km per charge. For now BMW is keeping mum on other elements of the drivetrain and its capabilities, including torque. 

This isn’t the first electrified performance BMW, of course. The i8 sports car was a deceptively quick machine (and an incredible looker), although the shine came off when comparing its performance capabilities to similarly priced machines at the time.

The i4 M50, on the other hand, should be a very competitive package straight out the gate. It should be a fairly compatible rival for the Tesla Model 3 Performance, which produces 147kW and 211kW of power from its dual motors.

Inside, the M50 looks comparatively ‘ordinary’ versus some of BMW’s other electric projects. The dashboard looks like a copy paste of the conventional designs in petrol 3 and 4 Series models. Not that this is a bad thing at all.

One new bit of kit it gets is the big curved display from the iX. It wraps around the steering wheel and ends at the top of the centre stack, housing both the digital cluster and the primary infotainment touchscreen.

Lookswise, the M50 appears to be a clear cousin of the M3 on first glance. It has the huge controversial new twin-kidney grille, the diffuser is massive, and there’s plenty of sporty blacked-out details.

But look closer and you can pick that it’s both electric, and not a fully blown M variant. Unlike the M3 it doesn’t feature the big, boxy wheel arches. Its grille, while large, doesn’t have perforations in it. And there are no exhaust pipe exits wedged into that diffuser.

Share
Previous Post

BMW confirms bumper electric car line-up for NZ

Next Post

Former Volkswagen CEO to pay $17m over Dieselgate scandal

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NZ Autocar is New Zealand’s leading automotive magazine. Delivering news reviews from the automotive world, including commentary from leading automotive writers and covers the scope of motoring including new cars, classic cars, EVs and motorbikes.

Our team

Publisher: Mark Petch
General Manager: Gavin Shaw
Editor: Kyle Cassidy
Senior Editor: Peter Louisson
News Editor: Harrison Wade
Art Director: Alex Schultz
Photographer: Tom Gasnier

To Subscribe

nzautocar.subscription.co.nz

Contact Us

Advertising:
Gavin Shaw
gavin@autocar.co.nz
.
Editorial:
Kyle Cassidy
kyle@autocar.co.nz
.
NZ Autocar
PO Box 44 304
Point Chevalier
Auckland 1246
New Zealand

Categories

  • Bikes
  • Classics
  • Commercial
  • Electric
  • Industry
  • Motorsport
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Uncategorized
  • YouTube

Useful Links

Home
News
Motorsport
New Car Prices
New Bike Prices
Subscriptions
Competitions
Contact Us
Advertising
Terms and Conditions

© 2021 AUTOCAR 2016 LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Electric
  • Commercial
  • Industry
  • Bikes
  • Classics
  • Motorsport
  • Prices
    • New Car Prices
    • New Bike Prices
  • Subscribe
    • Print
    • Digital
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Advertise

© 2021 AUTOCAR 2016 LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.