AC Schnitzer decided to go with the BMW i4 M50 and change its wheels for a custom 20-inch set with Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 tires measuring 255/35 R20 front and 265/35 R20 rear. AC Schnitzer lowered the i4’s suspension by 25 millimeters (one inch) at both axles by fitting an aftermarket spring kit. A comprehensive aerodynamic package encompasses a beefier front spoiler with an added splitter and canards.

The BMW i4 M50 “police car” also has a carbon spoiler on the tailgate along with a plastic roof edge spoiler. Next, AC Schnitzer fitted winglets on the rear fenders, above the taillights, to create a visual connection with the spoiler. A rear skirt protection film rounds off the changes on the outside. The changes on the inside are limited to the tuner’s aluminum pedal set with footrest, along with a custom cover for the iDrive controller and keyholder made from the same material.

Below, you can see a full gallery of the car. [Source: AC Schnitzer]

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The performance numbers back up the futuristic soundtrack as the i4 M50 did 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.72 seconds, thus notably beating the 3.9-second time quoted by the German automaker. Perhaps more impressive is the sprint from 62 to 124 mph (100 to 200 km/h), which took approximately eight and a half seconds. EVs tend to run out of puff at higher speeds, but BMW’s zero-emissions 4 Series Gran Coupe has pulling power for a longer time.

The 141 mph (227 km/h) top speed is nothing to write home about and is on par with the electronically limited 140 mph (225 km/h) mentioned by the Bavarian brand in the specs sheet. Numbers aside, those who have driven the i4 M50 praised its handling despite its extra bulk compared to an M3 Sedan or an ALPINA B3. With continuous advancements made in battery tech by improving energy density, future EVs could shed some weight for better performance and efficiency.

A true electric M is unlikely to arrive before 2025 when the Neue Klasse will debut. BMW might have teased a sports car without a combustion engine in a recent presentation to journalists, but even if it’s coming, don’t expect to see it anytime soon.

Source: Automann-TV / YouTube

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The BMW i4 Gran Coupe launched earlier this year and it’s currently offered in two variants: i4 eDrive40 and an M-tuned i4 M50. A third variant i4 eDrive35 will arrive next year. Of course, it’s the i4 M50 that excites customers the most. Mostly because the BMW i4 M50 is a seriously quick car. Its dual electric motors make 536 horsepower and 586 lb-ft of torque, which are fed by an 80.7 kWh battery pack. While using launch control, we were able to snag a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds. So it comes as no surprise that customers are lining up to place orders for the electric M Performance model.

“The highest volume M product we will have is the i4 M50,” said Weber. “We will increase production even more next year when we expect no bottlenecks or chip shortages.” We asked Weber which markets lead the way for i4 demand. “Across the board,” Weber told us. According to Weber, customers like the i4 because it simply looks like a BMW. “From a driving experience also, people are surprised how much the i4 is a BMW,” said Weber.

Next, Weber said that the BMW i4 demand has certainly exceeded their expectations and because of supply chain constrains, the product is lower than he’d want to. But BMW is not stopping here. Weber says that the company is currently assigning six Gigafactories. They’ll be strategically positioned where the company is making electric vehicles in order to cut logistics costs. “A single gigafactory spawns over 200 hectare (495 acres),” Weber added.

Last week, BMW introduced a new generation of battery technology, developed internally, to be unveiled in the “NEUE KLASSE” electric vehicles in the 2025 timeframe. The cylindrical cells are a departure from the prismatic battery format BMW has previously used. Cylindrical batteries offer several advantages over prismatic batteries that BMW will take advantage of. Of course, the BMW i4 models continue to use the Gen5 battery tech.

In the United States, the 2023 BMW i4 M50 starts at $65,900 and has an EPA-rated maximum range of 227 miles. But recent independent tests showed that the i4 M50 with 20 inch wheels can achieve a range of 268 miles, 41 more than the EPA rating.

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On paper, the M3P has a couple of important advantages as it’s substantially cheaper and has a longer range. It doesn’t have the build quality or the prestige of a BMW, but has the straight-line performance to live up to its suffix. TFLEV tested the two electric performance vehicles back-to-back in 0 to 60 mph runs before doing a couple of drag races.

The Tesla Model 3 Performance hit 60 mph from a standstill in 3.63 seconds, thus comparable to supercars from not that many years ago. As for the i4 M50, it held its own since the electric M Performance was barely any slower. It did the job in 3.72 seconds, which means a true M version of the i4 would beat the Tesla.

In the subsequent drag races, the BMW had to settle for second place. It’s largely because the Model 3 Performance had a better start in both instances. In the first quarter-mile run, the i4 M50 completed the run in 11.98 seconds at 119.2 mph. As for the Tesla, it crossed the finish line in 11.83 seconds at 118 mph. The BMW’s higher trap speed means it was beginning to catch up, but it was too little too late.

It was déjà vu in the second drag as the M3P once again took the win. The Tesla completed the sprint in 11.92 at 118 mph whereas the BMW needed 12.06 seconds at 120.8 mph. Again, the i4 M50 was faster by the end of the race, but not enough to recuperate the lost ground.

Let’s take a look!

Source: TFLEV / YouTube

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The BMW M3 Competition is powered by a 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged inline-six with 503 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. That engine is paired with an eight-speed ZF auto, through which is sends its powers to the rear wheels. On the flip side, the BMW i4 M50 is an all-electric sedan with two electric motors, one at each axle to make it all-wheel drive, making a whopping 536 horsepower and 586 lb-ft of torque. The tests include a 0-60, quarter-mile, skid pad g-force testing, and even lap times at VIR (Virginia International Raceway) Grand Course. And as you’d expect, the results are interesting.

The BMW i4 M50 is faster to 60 mph by a good margin. It get do the sprint in 3.3 seconds, versus 3.5 seconds. However, the M3 Competition takes the win in the quarter-mile by just a tenth of a second, at 11.6 seconds versus 11.7. Unsurprisingly, the BMW M3 Competition is better in corners as well, with higher skid pad numbers and sharper reflexes, due to its much lower curb weight.

Which one is the better car?

That’s hard to say, as they’re both designed for very different things. At their price points, though, customers are naturally going to cross shop both cars. It’s just going to come down to whether they prefer an electric experience or a gasoline one. Though, it’s hard to argue with the performance bargain the the i4 M50 is, as it’s faster than the legendary M3 while also being over $7,000 cheaper.

[Source: Car and Driver]

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There is one performance aspect that cars equipped with gasoline and diesel engines will never match an EV. We’re talking about the near-instant torque delivered by an electric motor. The BMW i4 M50 happens to have two of them, one at the front and another one at the back. With the Sport Boost function turned on, the pair of e-motors unleashes its full potential.

Sport Boost is more than just marketing fluff since it adds 68 horsepower (50 kilowatts) and 65 Newton-meters (48 pound-feet) for over 10 seconds. The 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) is listed at 3.9 seconds, which is just about the same real-life number obtained by YouTuber Refuel.

At its full capabilities, the BMW i4 M50 offers 544 hp (400 kW) and 795 Nm (586 lb-ft). There’s a dedicated icon in the instrument cluster that shows how much extra power is available and for how long. Without the Sport Boost mode activated, it needed up to 4.3 seconds to complete the run. It’s a significant performance difference, but the electric gran tourer remains plenty quick even in normal mode.

Even though the BMW i4 M50 comes with xDrive, the damp road might’ve negatively impacted the car’s sprint to some degree. A state of charge higher than the 55% seen here might’ve had a positive influence in the straight line, too. Nevertheless, 3.9 seconds is nothing to scoff at. It’s especially true coming from a car that weighs no less than 2,290 kilograms (5,048 pounds)…

[Source: Refuel / YouTube]

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On the design front, things will always be subjective and a lot of people dread the new kidney grilles of some BMW models. At the same time, the Model 3 isn’t exactly a stunner either, having more of a functional design than an emotional one. Inside the cabin, the Tesla wins in the infotainment department, according to Mat, even though it doesn’t have Android Auto or Apple CarPlay connectivity. As expected, the fit and finish inside the Tesla isn’t on the same level as the BMW with the same edge going to the Bavarian car in terms of material quality.

There are numerous other differences too. With the two trading blows in all areas. When it comes to driving, the BMW i4 has the better suspension, that absorbs bumps better in Comfort mode but it does seem to push you outside the corners due to its weight. However, the i4 is quieter overall and more brutal in Sport mode when accelerating hard. Last but not least, there’s also a 0-60 mph comparison done by Mat at the end of the video and the result will surprise you, especially since we’ve already seen a video of the two drag racing.

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A new promotional video shot in Austria at the Salzburgring circuit aims to prove those people wrong by showing that even if it weighs roughly as much as a fullsize SUV, the i4 M50 is nimble and agile around a race track. It’s not just the instant response of the electric motors, but all the other tweaks made to the chassis, suspension, and steering that make the zero-emissions M truly fun to drive despite being quite heavy.

Racing driver Charlie Martin got behind the wheel of the BMW i4 M50 on a rainy day at the 2.63-mile circuit located in Koppl and was left impressed with its endless power delivery as the car didn’t feel it was running out of steam at any point. The 40-year-old British racing driver was joined by David Ferrufino, the project manager leading the development of the first M car without exhaust tips.

As you may recall, the i4 M50 comes with a boost function that ups power by 67 hp and 48 lb-ft (65 Nm) to an impressively potent 536 hp and 586 lb-ft (795 Nm) for more than 10 seconds. With a 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, it’s one of the quickest production vehicles out there once we exclude much more expensive supercars and hypercars. At $65,900, one would argue it’s somewhat of a bargain if you compare it to those kinds of high-end vehicles that cost six figures.

Not only that, but it remains a 4 Series Gran Coupe at its core, meaning it’s a spacious vehicle with a practical tailgate. Combining all that performance with the do-it-all capabilities and the benefits of having all-wheel drive creates a versatile EV that should tick most (if not all) boxes. Yes, we’re missing the sound of an inline-six or a V8, but times are changing and we have to get used to the idea of a BMW M car that doesn’t have an authentic engine soundtrack.

The i4 M50 will be going on sale in the United States in Q1 2022. Meanwhile, the iX M60 will premiere at the beginning of next month at CES in Las Vegas as the second electric M car from BMW.

[Source: BMW]

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The publication created a ranking system, dubbed E-Rating, that’s meant to help buyers understand the efficiency of an electric vehicle. The E-Rating algorithm takes into account a number of factors, including how well electrical power is converted into miles on the road, the speed with which the battery can be recharged, and features like heat pumps, intelligent brake energy recovery, and climate control preconditioning, all of which help to reduce power consumption.

The efficiency of electric vehicles is graded from ‘A++’ to ‘E,’ with the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3 receiving the highest A++ ratings in the UK.  The Mercedes EQS, Citroen Ami, e-C4, and SEAT Mii are among 13 vehicles to receive an A+ grade, with another 14 receiving an A. The Mercedes EQV people transporter, on the other hand, is the only vehicle to receive an E. The luxury SUVs Audi e-tron and Mercedes EQC received a D rating.

Electrifying.com assessed the cost difference to cover 10,000 miles between a ‘A++’ rated car (the BMW i4) and a car graded ‘E’ (Mercedes EQV) based on miles per kWh alone to be £580. Despite the fact that the Mercedes and BMW are not in the same class, there are significant distinctions between electric automobiles that are direct competitors. For example, a Tesla Model Y (rated A+) will cost £176 less than a Volvo XC40 Recharge over 10,000 kilometers.

Furthermore, the rating also takes recharging times into account. Cars with less efficient powertrains will end up spending more time hooked up to a charger both due to the lower charging power they can take but also because they simply need more energy to get around.

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Unfortunately, even though we’ve seen it already in hundreds of pics and tens of videos, the BMW i4 is yet to arrive on showroom floors as of right now. Production is slated to kick off later this year, which means we’ll only get to see it on public roads next year. That’s a long way out and it could be problematic if you’re interested in buying one. However, if you think about it, this could also be considered a good opportunity to learn all there is to know about the car.

That’s what BMW set out to do, with the video posted below. It goes over a lot of the things you’d be interested in. From the aerodynamic design to the boot capacity and interior design. That’s where you’ll find the biggest difference in terms of styling, compared to the regular 4 Series. The new i4 comes with the recently announced iDrive 8 operating system and a new setup for the screens.

The car itself is made using renewable energy alone, so that it’s not just good for the local environment, where it is going to be used, but has a holistic, eco-friendly production process. Furthermore, no matter which model you go for, it’s not going to have any rare earth metals in its drivetrain, yet another way to conserving resources. And those characteristics might just make the difference in a segment that’s dedicated to eco-conscious customers.

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