BMW announced the newest additions to the BMW i brand, the i4 eDrive40 and i4 M50 models. The i4 M50 is the first fully-electric performance model to come from BMW M GmbH. The i4 blends the functionality and space of the gran coupe design with the instantaneous power delivery of BMW's latest 5th generation eDrive. Class-leading driving dynamics and long-distance comfort, elegant design, uncompromising workmanship, cutting-edge user-vehicle interface and advanced infotainment and driving assistance technologies all combine to deliver a zero-emissions BMW worthy of the Ultimate Driving Machine moniker. Power is provided by BMW's latest 5th generation eDrive technology which combines the electric motors, power electronics, charging system and high-voltage battery. The electric motor, power electronics and transmission share one compact housing while the high-voltage battery measures only 4.3-inches in height and is mounted low in the floor of the new i4 for improved vehicle agility. BMW Group has been producing battery modules and high-voltage batteries since 2013 and this in-house experience shows, with the latest generation of batteries, found in the i4, having a maximum DC fast charging capacity of up to 200 kW and AC Level 2 charging of up to 11 kW.
Sustainability and Reduced Carbon Footprint
Sustainability is an integral part of the development of the new BMW i4, from the sourcing of materials to the production of the i4 itself and to the recycling of its components in the future. Every step of the value chain was carefully looked at to reduce the carbon footprint of the i4 to the absolutely lowest level possible. Steps taken by the BMW Group include commitments from all battery cell suppliers for 5thgeneration BMW eDrive technology to only use electricity from renewable sources. The aluminum electric motor cases are manufactured from purely green energy. Only locally-generated hydroelectric power is used for the i4's production at BMW Group Plant Munich.
Driving Dynamics
The ingredients which make up the experience of driving a BMW include instantaneous power delivery, excellent traction and directional stability, neutral steering behaviour, precisely controllable handling even under maximum lateral acceleration, superb stopping power and an excellent balance between sportiness and ride comfort in everyday driving and on long trips alike. The new BMW i4 delivers all these attributes with zero tailpipe emissions. The 5th generation eDrive technology offers instant torque-on-demand while the location of the high-voltage battery low in the vehicle's floor reduces center of gravity for improved handling. Thanks to the battery module, the i4's center of gravity is 1.3-inches (BMW i4 M50) or 2.1-inches (BMW i4 eDrive40) lower than on a 3-Series Sedan.
The rigid body structure and sophisticated chassis design impart superb agility, especially for the new i4 M50, the first purely electric performance model from BMW M GmbH. Chassis technology includes lift-related shock absorbers, rear air suspension, electromechanical steering with Servotronic function, integrated braking system, DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system and near-actuator wheel slip limitation. The BMW i4 M50 boasts fully-electric all-wheel drive, adaptive M suspension with individually configured springs and shocks, specially designed anti-roll bars and an additional spring strut tower brace in the front end, along with variable sport steering, M Sport brakes and M light-alloy wheels up to 20 inches in diameter with mixed-size tires.
Exterior Design
The BMW i4 combines the hallmark sporting aesthetic of the brand's coupés with the comfort of a four-door car and a practical appeal offered by the large tailgate. The elegantly stretched proportions of the new BMW i4, the short overhangs, slim pillars, doors with frameless windows and a roofline that flows smoothly into the rear underscore a silhouette that very much fits the BMW coupé mould. At the heart of the front end stands the striking, BMW kidney grille, which is largely blocked off due to the small amount of cooling air required by the electric drive components. Depending on the specification, the car's front camera is joined by ultrasonic and radar sensors integrated discreetly into the surface of the kidney grille. The front bumper of the BMW i4 also has only a small number of openings.
These include the air curtains positioned towards its outer edges, which direct air efficiently past the wheels. Clearly designed surfaces painted almost entirely in body color, precise lines and black inlays underline the modern, function-led character of the front end. With their reduced and technically sophisticated appearance, the slim headlights of the BMW i4 fit in neatly with the surface design of the BMW kidney grille. The classical twin-headlight layout is enhanced by the addition of modern and minimalist U-shaped light elements for the daytime driving lights. The BMW i4 is equipped with standard full-LED headlights. Large and smooth sculpted surfaces, the air breathers integrated into the side sill trim on the front fenders, flush-fitted door handles and the fin-like trailing edge of the passenger compartment mark out the aerodynamically optimized design of the BMW i4 when viewed from the side. The elegant stretched side window design flows into the Hofmeister kink counter-swing above the powerful shoulders north of the rear wheels.
Interior Driver-Focused Cockpit with BMW Curved Display
The interior of the BMW i4 fuses the clear design language and modern premium ambience with an extremely progressive approach to driver-focused cockpit design. The purely electric gran coupé comes with a very slim and low instrument panel, which provides the stage for the latest version of the fully digital display grouping. The innovative BMW Curved Display brings together the information display behind the steering wheel and the control display of the BMW iDrive control/operation system into a frameless, single-piece glass surface angled towards the driver. The 12.3-inch information display and 14.9-inch control display effectively merge into a single driver-focused unit. The BMW Curved Display in the BMW i4 is held in place by a supporting structure that is concealed from the occupants' view and appears to be free standing in the cockpit. The anti-reflective glass used makes it possible to dispense with the customary binnacle for shielding the readouts from sunlight, giving the cockpit area a remarkably tidy and airy appearance. The rest of the interior design is focused towards providing a richly involving driving experience. The BMW i4 is fitted with standard sport seats and a sports steering wheel with multifunction buttons. The high center console and flowing surface structure running from the instrument panel into the door panels generate a cocoon-like feel in the front compartment. In the BMW i4 M50, soft, raised knee pads on the center console further accentuate the car's engaging driving character.
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