BMW’s hottest all-electric car yet has been leaked.
A photo of the BMW i4 M50 was shared to Instagram and quickly removed, but not before Motor1 saved a copy.
It differs from the previously revealed i4 through its more aggressive front bumper and discreet M badge on the not-so discreet grille.
This particular example foregoes the trademark blue accenting BMW makes available on its all-electric models, though it’s painted in a vivid blue metallic.
Apart from greater use of black accenting, it looks otherwise similar to the regular i4.
The i4 is set to touch down in Australia in the first quarter of 2022.
BMW has previously confirmed the most powerful i4 will feature M Performance branding and offer up to 390kW of power and a 0-100km/h time of 4.0 seconds.
That compares favourably with the M4 coupe range, which uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine and produces ‘just’ 375kW of power even in more powerful M4 Competition guise.
The M4 Competition is still quicker though, with a 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds with rear-wheel drive and 3.5 seconds with all-wheel drive.
Don’t expect the i4 M50 to be quite as raw as the M4.
Although it’s developing M Performance electric vehicles, BMW says it isn’t ready to do a proper M EV just yet.
“The technology that we’re looking at on the high-performance side will take some more years to come. You can imagine weight will play a significant role in it,” said BMW M boss Markus Flasch last year.
BMW has confirmed the i4 will offer up to 590km of range on the stricter WLTP standard, with lesser models set to offer a single-motor, rear-wheel drive electric drivetrain like the X3-based iX3.
BMW Australia is now taking online reservations for the i4, requiring customers to enter their personal details, select their local dealer and make a $500 deposit.
You can access the reservation portal here.
Those who make a reservation will be able to specify their vehicle later this year when full pricing and specifications are released for the local model line-up.
The i4 will serve as the third all-electric model to arrive in Australia as part of BMW’s new-generation EV product strategy, with the iX3 and all-new iX dedicated electric SUV set to arrive in Australia before the end of 2021.
It’ll rival the likes of the Tesla Model 3 and upcoming Polestar 2, while its practical five-door liftback body gives us a preview of the upcoming, redesigned 4 Series Gran Coupe.
The internal combustion engine model will likely differ in minor details, like wheel designs, the grille insert, and the exhaust outlets.
