BMW Begins Production of the All-Electric i4 Sedan
BMW's Model 3 fighter has entered production and looks like a compelling alternative.
Getting Serious
For the past decade, Tesla has essentially owned the EV market. But now, pretty much every legacy automaker and a handful of startups are working overtime to catch up, including BMW. The German automaker took a big step forward recently when it began production of the i4 four-door coupe, which is aimed squarely at the Tesla Model 3.
Photos: BMW
Two Versions
The BMW i4 will come in two different, distinct versions - the i4 eDrive40 and the i4 M50. The former features a single electric motor producing 335 horsepower in a rear-wheel-drive configuration, while the latter is all-wheel-drive and features two motors that produce a combined 469 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque.
Photos: BMW
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Pricing and Performance
The i4 eDrive40 is capable of accelerating from 0-60 miles-per-hour in 5.5 seconds, while the i4 M50 does the deed in an impressive 3.7 seconds, though that's a bit slower than the Model 3 Performance at 3.1 seconds. In the U.S., the i4 eDrive40 will start out at $56,395, while the i4 M50 has an MSRP of $66,895, which is quite a bit more than the comparable Model 3.
Photos: BMW
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Big Step Forward
Regardless, the i4 does provide a more luxurious cabin, more traditional styling, and additional features when compared to the Model 3. It's also a huge step forward for BMW, which has thrived on making ICE-powered performance-oriented coupes, sedans, and SUVs for decades now.
Photos: BMW
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Going Electric
"For the plant and team, the launch of the BMW i4 is a milestone on the road to electric mobility," said Milan Nedeljković, BMW AG Board Member for Production. "By 2023 more than half of all vehicles from our Munich facility will have an electrified drive. The majority will be fully electric. So Munich goes fully electric."
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Challenging Conversion
Converting the 100-year-old Munich plant for EV production proved to be challenging, as one might imagine. "We succeeded in integrating the new vehicle into our existing systems without halting production. The team and our partners did an amazing job," said Peter Weber, Director of BMW Group Plant Munich. "Our body shop is a shining example of intelligent, efficient integration. Most of the new production processes for the BMW i4 can be carried out on the existing body shop systems."
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Sustainable Future
While the Munich plant continues to produce ICE-powered vehicles including the hybrid BMW 3 Series Sedan and Touring, the BMW M3, and the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, the automaker's focus is on a sustainable future, and that includes production. "We are well aware that, owing to the city location of our production facility, we have a special responsibility," Weber said. "Our project to reduce CO2 emissions at our home plant will have a major impact that's positive both for the environment and for our immediate neighborhood."
Photos: BMW
>>Join the conversation about the new i4 BMW right here in the Electric Vehicles Forums!
