Savage and sustainable are words barely ever seen in the same sentence, yet they perfectly describe BMW’s latest addition to their M-Sport range. For not only does the i4 M50 provide stomach churning acceleration, but it’s also 100% battery powered – is this the new M3/M4? BMW NZ let us find out more.
The i4 is BMW’s first ‘all-electric’ Gran Coupe and in NZ it comes in two variants, the eDrive40 and the first-ever emissions-free BMW M car – the i4 M50. I got to try out the latter, dressed in Portimao Blue (the car not me).
I must admit up front that I’m a big fan of the brand’s M-Sport line-up and have been seen salivating over the iconic M3 from time to time, so the thought of slapping a coveted M badge on an appliance left me a little underwhelmed – but then I drove it.
First and foremost the i4 M50 is brutally quick. Powered by two BMW M eDrive engines it produces 400kW and 795Nm, but more importantly, (in Sports Boost) it propels this sleek sedan from zero-100km/h in 3.9 seconds on paper and, ahem, 3.4 seconds in reality!
Behind the scenes there’s an 83.9kWh lithium-ion battery that can be DC charged (205 kW; 10% – 80 %) in 31 minutes and AC charged (11 kW, 0% – 100%) in 8.25 h and thanks to its efficient power usage (so when NOT trying to break the land speed record) of 22kWh/100km (combined), it will travel up to 510km fully charged – how’s that for impressive.
To me, style wise, the i4 M50 sits across the M3 and M4, so has 4-door practicality with a Coupe roofline. The large kidney grilles are closed off to improve aerodynamics and the headlights are laser blue, they are so good they can virtually able to see into the future. The new BMW i4 M50 also features model-specific adaptive M suspension, variable sport steering, M Sport braking system and M light-alloy wheels. While topping off the list of exterior handsome treats are the M-Sport badges and carbon fibre highlights in areas such as lower vents and spoilers, I think you’re getting the picture, this is something rather special.
On the whole, the interior is very BMW familiar, but with an ultra modern twist. The fundamentals, M-Sport bucket seats, M-Sport steering wheel and the like will make the sportier BMW drivers feel right at home, while the huge digital screen panel (that takes up half the length of the dash) will be a really pleasant surprise.
Despite its huge size, the screen itself is not overwhelming once powered on, as it immediately reverts to a more traditional infotainment/instrument cluster format – it just offers infinitely more options, definitely more than enough to keep the geekiest amongst us happy.
I can’t lie, for me the lack of the M-powered heart roar on switch on was sadly missed, but from there on in the i4 M50 did nothing but impress. The sporty EV is obviously heavier than its M3/M4 counterparts, (with its big battery pack hugging the chassis) but I really didn’t notice it – as proven with the 0-100 rate.
The i4 handles ‘the town’ like a pro, with 360-degree camera angles, park and reverse assists, and a style that’s welcomed at the ritziest of hotels. However, being a Coupe, the visibility is marginally compromised through the rear and turning circle requires an extra turn or two. Out of the city limits, the steering feels confidently BMW weighted and the Coupe’s handling of the corners is natural and M-balanced – Oh and did I mention that it’s bloody fast?
Seriously, engaging Sport mode has the Gran Coupe sit a little lower (the i4’s centre of gravity is also up to 53mm lower than in the BMW 3 Series Sedan) and has it move a lot quicker, but for me, Sport Boost/Sport plus is where the real joy lies with this M-EV weapon. At the simple touch of a button, it switches from tourer to tornado or maybe Kent to Superman is more apt as quite simply, it flies.
With the hard press of the accelerator the world whizzes past at a mind blowing rate of knots and yet the cabin remains all very serene. Road noise is minimal and the i4 M50’s poise on the tarmac is admiral. Overtaking is a breeze, and can be conducted at ANY given opportunity, but when presented with a clear open road ahead, it’s hard not to find yourself at speeds you shouldn’t be.
For those not keen on speeding in ‘silence’, there’s a Harman/Kardon surround sound system ready to pump out your favorite sounds and my model came with the optional BMW IconicSounds (created as part of a collaboration with film music composer Hans Zimmer) so an extra electric soundtrack to enliven the senses.
As mentioned before, the infotainment screen displays a myriad of information, but for those not prone to car sickness or fixated on what lies beyond the cabin’s glass, all the specs, torque, power, boost etc are there to watch bounce off the limits and underline the M-EV’s performance credentials.
I’m certain that there are many BMW M-Power purists out there that will shudder at the thought of an EV being invited to their exclusive club (I was one of them initially), but having spent a week behind the wheel of the i4 M50 I am happy (or maybe not) to report that it’s brutal enough to enthuse the most ardent of petrolheads, yet kind and sustainable enough to ensure it, (and the planet) has a bright future to look forward to. Top marks.
