A BMW with an M badge represents speed and passion – originating from BMW Motorsport and dedicated to building racing level cars for the public. The letter “M” represents the highest level of mechanical technology, strong engine performance, and outstanding handling.
Now, BMW presents its first electric member of the M family.
On September 16th, at the high-end consumer center and business district of Dawang Road, Beijing, the Beyond Electric BMW i Inspiration Space officially opened. During the launch, the BMW i4 M50 made its debut under the spotlight enhanced with laser illumination.
The BMW i4 M50 is the first electrified BMW M family model. As the first M family electric vehicle, it has a motor power of up to 400kW, a peak torque of 795N.m, and an acceleration time of just 3.9 seconds from 0-100km/h. It has a cruising range of up to 590km on WLTP conditions.
In terms of tuning, the BMW i4 M50 inherits BMW M’s exclusive tuning and testing. It combines the unique chassis technology of M with electric drive technology and can be equipped with a full electric four-wheel drive system.
With the appearance of the BMW i4 M50, the BMW Group has entered the second phase of electrification transformation. In the future, the Beyond Electric BMW i Inspiration Space will carry out nationwide tours of BMW iX and BMW i4 in 10 cities throughout the country.
More Sport in Electric
Electric M family, more sport.
In terms of exterior design, the BMW i4 continues the BMW family design language. The size of the new car is 4785/1852/1856mm in length, width, and height, respectively, with a wheelbase of 2856mm and a drag coefficient as low as 0.24cd.
In the design details of the front of the car, the kidney-shaped air intake grille is still striking. The grille adopts an upper and lower layered design, with the upper layer being a closed structure and integrating front cameras, radar, and other components. The lower layer serves as air vents. It is worth mentioning that the coating of the front air intake grille has a self-repair function and can repair scratches by itself.
# BMW i4: The Pinnacle of Sports Design
BMW i4 combines modern, elegant sports design with dynamic lines, making it the first four-door electric sports sedan from BMW. The side profile of the car exudes a sense of motion.
At the rear of the BMW i4, the carbon fiber wing on the trunk lid demonstrates its performance DNA as an M-family model. Its outstanding 544-horsepower performance matches that of an M50. In addition, the air diffuser beneath the bumper further increases downforce.
In terms of details, the rearview mirrors of the BMW i4 M50 are made of carbon fiber and are equipped with integrated cameras and turn signals.
The BMW i4 M50 features unique 19-inch wheels, and the brake calipers are painted blue to perfectly match its electric identity. The tire size of the showcased car is 245/40/R19.
Overall, the use of numerous carbon fiber components enhances the athletic sensation of the entire car.
The BMW i4 M50 is undoubtedly deserving of its place among the BMW M family.
iDrive 8.0: A Powerful Functionality System
The interior of the BMW i4 features a suspended curved screen design.
Underneath this curved screen, iDrive 8.0 will be equipped on the BMW i4.
The hardware system of iDrive 8.0 is based on a brand new generation of electronic/electrical architecture, employing cutting-edge innovations such as 5G T-BOX, eSIM cards, and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology.
The brand new electronic/electrical architecture is built on Gigabit Ethernet and has a total transmission rate of up to 30Gbit/s. This allows for faster communication between the vehicle’s various modules, and reduces the number of ECU controllers by 50%. Moreover, the system provides a wider range of equipment expansion choices.# BMW i4 supports UWB ultra-wideband technology and has created BMW Digital Key Plus based on it, allowing users to unlock their car without taking out their phones. UWB ultra-wideband technology has better anti-interference ability than Bluetooth and WiFi communication technology in technology, and has unparalleled advantages in positioning accuracy and security.
After adopting BMW iDrive 8.0, BMW i4’s integrated floating curved surface central control screen adopts a redesigned control panel and user interface, with powerful interconnection and data processing capabilities.
BMW i4’s My Modes function ingeniously combines multiple vehicle parameters according to the driver’s needs, achieving a perfect integration of function and design and bringing users a comprehensive and personalized luxury experience.
In terms of interior design details, BMW i4’s rear seats have independent air conditioning and two USB Type-C ports.
In terms of space, BMW i4 adopts a hatchback tailgate design, the trunk space is larger. The rear seats can be folded in a 4/2/4 manner, which is conducive to placing elongated items such as ski boards.
BMW enters the second stage of electrification
With the debut of the BMW i4 and the earlier BMW iX, BMW Group has entered the second stage of electrification transformation in promoting the electrification strategy and product line expansion. In the future, many pure electric vehicle models such as the BMW 5 series, BMW 7 series, and BMW X1 will be unveiled successively.
By 2023, BMW Group will provide about 13 pure electric vehicle models worldwide, and pure electric vehicle models will cover almost every segmentation market that BMW brand enters currently.After the second stage, BMW Group will enter a new stage of electric development and launch a new generation of vehicle series called “DIE NEUE KLASSE” by 2025. According to official estimates, about 10 million pure electric BMW cars will be delivered globally in the next 10 years.
In the third stage of BMW electrification, pure electric car models are expected to account for half of BMW Group’s global sales by 2030. The MINI brand will serve as BMW Group’s sustainable development pioneer, with all MINI models expected to achieve electrification by the beginning of 2030.
In line with BMW’s electrification strategy, the company is accelerating research and development of many cutting-edge technologies for electric vehicles.
Regarding power batteries for electric vehicles, BMW has invested USD 130 million in solid-state battery technology research and has jointly developed 20Ah solid-state cells with partners. Testing of 100Ah solid-state cell car regulation standards and vehicle integration is expected to begin in 2022.
By 2025, BMW will launch a prototype car with a solid-state battery and plans to apply the technology to mass-produced cars by 2030.
It is worth mentioning that BMW’s technology research and development is currently rooted in China, with research centers located in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Nanjing.
In the process of electrification, BMW Group advocates for a circular economy and prioritizes the recycling and reuse of resources.
As the first car company to propose carbon reduction from a full product life cycle perspective, BMW has set clear carbon reduction targets for suppliers, production, and usage stages, covering design and development, supply chain, production, use, and recycling.
In the manufacturing of BMW iX and BMW i4, they no longer use rare earth materials, and the proportion of recycled aluminum increases. The proportion of raw material cobalt in the battery cathode material can be reduced to below 10%. The high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack in the power battery uses lithium extracted from hard rock mines in Australia, based on sustainability standards.
With the launch of the BMW iX and BMW i4, BMW has repositioned its electrification products in the Chinese market. Compared with products in the first stage of electrification, the products in the second stage are more competitive and innovative, while still maintaining the essence of BMW cars. The development of the i-series models in China has gradually improved.Beyond electric, it’s more than just a slogan. In addition to the part of social responsibility beyond electrification, BMW Group is also a leader in carbon neutrality and green cars.
Can traditional luxury brands maintain their luxury attributes in the wave of electric and intelligent cars? BMW has given its answer through the i Series models. After its debut in Beijing, the BMW i4 will tour in Tianjin, Shanghai, Chengdu, Nanjing, Ningbo, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
For BMW fans, this is an event not to be missed. For electric car fans, the attraction of BMW i Series electric vehicles is also worth looking forward to, and the opportunity to experience them in the 10-city tour is not to be missed.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.