2022 BMW i4 detailed for Australia: German Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2-rivalling electric bruiser to land with big range and performance

BMW has confirmed its fully electric technology flagship iX SUV will be joined by its long-awaited i4 sedan in Australia in early 2022.

The i4 is locked in for a Q1 2022 arrival and will be available in two variants at launch, the standard long-range eDrive40 and performance oriented M50, the first BMW electric car to wear an M badge.

BMW says the i4 is “aimed at the traditional core of the mid-size segment” and promises an “all-new take on BMW’s signature driving pleasure”. The announcement also came with the confirmation of official WLTP cycle range figures, with the rear-drive eDrive40 sporting a Tesla-challenging range of 590km, and the all-wheel-drive M50 sporting a range of up to 510km.

Both variants have power figures not to be scoffed at, with the eDrive40 able to make use of 250kW/430Nm from its electric motor on the rear axle, while the dual-motor M50 has a combined output from its dual-motor setup of 400kW/795Nm allowing for a 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.9 seconds.

The i4 shares its 400v architecture with the iX electric flagship and has a lithium-ion battery pack with a usable capacity of 80.7kWh. A European-standard Type 2 CCS charging port will be standard, able to charge the i4 at up to 11kW on AC or 210kW on DC. This allows for a minimum charging time of 8.5 hours (0–100 per cent) on AC, or 31 minutes on DC (10–80 per cent). The i4 has a combined consumption rate of between 16 - 24kWh/100km.

BMW says it has worked to reduce the amount of rare earth metals used in its latest battery technology, with minimal cobalt used, and the lithium sourced solely from mines in Australia before being passed on to the brand’s battery partners. Like the i3 and i8 before it, the i4 will have many interior pieces constructed of recycled materials. Like its Polestar 2 rival most recently revealed, the i4 will have an official carbon life cycle assessment.

Specifications have not been locked in for the Australian market, but expect the i4 to score from 17- to 20-inch alloy wheels and adaptive suspension in the case of the M50, as well as launch control functions with an adaptive all-wheel-drive system.

The i4’s interior is not only comprised of recycled materials in a more traditional design style to the one which debuted in the iX, but it separates itself from its combustion counterparts with a single piece glass surface comprising a 14.9-inch multimedia screen, and a 12.3-inch digital dash cluster. A selection of interior colours, ambient LED interior lighting, as well as standard synthetic leather trim will be offered, although BMW says buyers will be able to highly personalise each vehicle with an extensive options list.

An “intelligent personal assistant” will feature, offering voice controlled functions and even data-based predictive functions, like automatically winding down the window to facilitate the swiping of an access card for a garage.

Acoustic glass to keep road noise out of the cabin is also standard as it is on many electric cars, and the i4 will generate a “brand typical soundtrack” to alert pedestrians to its presence at low speeds. On the inside a “soundtrack” developed by acclaimed cinema composer, Hans Zimmer, will be fed through the speakers to the occupants, which varies with driver input and the selected drive mode.

A phone app with extended functionality including a fully digital key will be released to go with an all-new in-car software suite, as well as the expected Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, both of which will be able to be connected wirelessly.

Stay tuned for pricing and detailed variant specification as we get closer to the i4’s Q1 2022 local arrival window.