The Electric 2022 BMW i4 Will Be More Powerful Than the M4
Since the i8 supercar was canceled last year, the only EV BMW offers is the i3 hatchback. However, that’s about to change. Recently, the German automaker took the wraps off its upcoming electric sedan, the 2022 BMW i4. And some of its planned specs might shock some BMW M4 owners.
The 2022 BMW i4 is an electric 4 Series Gran Coupe that might overpower the M4
BMW first showed off what would become the 2022 i4 back in 2020 as a concept, The Drive reports. But back then, the German brand didn’t have any detailed specs to share. However, while we still don’t know everything about the upcoming i4, BMW has released some hard data.
Most EV buyers will likely want to know what kind of range the 2022 BMW i4 offers. Unfortunately, finalized EPA estimates aren’t available as of this writing. However, BMW reports that, based on preliminary testing, the i4 can go up to 300 miles on a charge. The European testing cycle, being slightly more optimistic, puts the electric sedan’s range at roughly 367 miles.
And yes, the 2022 BMW i4 is a sedan. That’s worth pointing out because the i4 is essentially an electric version of the upcoming 4 Series Gran Coupe, Road & Track reports. But despite the name, the 2022 i4 isn’t a coupe. However, it does match up well with another BMW coupe: the 2021 M4. In terms of horsepower, that is.
In base form, the 2021 BMW M4 has a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine rated at 473 hp and 406 lb-ft. And the M4 Competition bumps that up to 503 hp and 479 lb-ft. But while the 2022 BMW i4 can’t quite match the M4 Competition’s output, there will be a trim that makes more power than the base M4. BMW claims “the quickest model” will have 523 hp and a 0-60 mph time of “‘around four seconds,'” MotorTrend reports. That roughly matches the manual M4’s time, R&T reports.
What we still don’t know
In all likelihood, the 523-hp version of the 2022 BMW i4 will be the M Performance model. And it likely won’t be able to quite match that 300-mile range claim. However, as of this writing, that’s all the concrete information BMW released about its upcoming EV.
We don’t know how many electric motors the i4 will offer, how large the battery pack is, or how much it will cost. However, the German automaker promises that the i4 “will corner like a BMW is supposed to,” The Drive reports. Plus, the i4, along with the upcoming iX and iX3 electric crossovers, will offer a two-part curved-glass infotainment display, Hagerty and Autoblog report.
As of this writing, BMW also hasn’t revealed an official release date for the 2022 i4. But the automaker plans to release it “during the course of 2021.”
Will the 2022 BMW i4 be worth considering over its EV rivals?
Given that we don’t know much about the 2022 BMW i4, it’s difficult to truly compare it to the EV competition. But we can ballpark it.
Much like the BMW M4 competes with the Porsche 911, the 2022 i4 will compete with the Taycan. And for 2021, the base-trim Porsche Taycan has a single rear-mounted motor hooked up to either a 79.2-kWh pack or an optional 93-kWh pack. With the latter, Porsche’s EV makes 375 hp, or up to 469 hp during launches. But to get close to the M Performance i4’s output, you’ll need either the dual-motor 482-hp Taycan 4S or the 616-hp Taycan Turbo.
Getting that extra power will cost you, though, both in terms of money and range. The EPA estimates the 2021 Taycan 4S with the larger pack goes 227 miles on a charge. And the 2021 Turbo only manages 212 miles on a charge. Plus, even without additional options, a Taycan 4S with the larger pack starts at $110,720.
Plus, Audi now offers its own version of the Taycan, the 2022 E-Tron GT. The base Quattro model has two electric motors and AWD, with a combined 469 hp and 464 lb-ft. And the RS E-Tron GT bumps that up to 590 hp and 612 lb-ft.
Interestingly, though, the two models have roughly the same range. Audi claims the $99,990 E-Tron GT Quattro goes 238 miles on a charge, though EPA estimates aren’t out as of this writing. The $140,490 RS E-Tron GT only loses a claimed six miles of range, Car and Driver reports.
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