The electrification future seems to be taking rapid growth thick and fast. Not just the mass-market automakers but also the luxury car makers are grabbing the pie of an increasing EV market share in India. Every new launch gives a much-needed push to faster adoption of electric vehicles. German auto-manufacturer BMW has expanded its electric vehicle portfolio by launching its second electric vehicle as BMW i4 electric sedan. BMW i4 sedan is based on the same modular CLAR platform that also underpins the ICE cars.
The BMW i4 is technically an electrified version of the 4 Series Grand Coupe. Currently, 4 Series is not on sale in India. However, BMW has eliminated that void by introducing the i4 in India via the CBU unit. On the styling part, BMW has made the i4 look more distinctive. Like with every other EV, the BMW i4 also gets a blanked-off kidney grille, the battery technology in the car's floor area, and the sporty diffuser elements, which optimise the car's aerodynamics. BMW has also put aerodynamic efficient, lightweight 17-inch wheels that help to increase the range. Also, as an exhaust system is not required, the rear apron's lower section is used to improve aerodynamics. Blue accents on the exterior and the specific 'i' badging give it a distinctive electric vehicle appeal.
BMW claims that the interior of the BMW i4 fuses the unmistakable design language and modern premium ambience with a highly progressive approach to driver-focused cockpit design. It gets an extensive 14.9-inch touch screen infotainment system and a 10.23-inch instrument cluster. The BMW i4 is equipped as standard with three-zone automatic climate control, LED ambient lighting, a sunroof and a 17-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system to enhance the audio experience.BMW i4 also comes equipped with Park Distance Control (PDC) with sensors at the front and rear to improve practical assistance when parking and manoeuvring.
Globally, the BMW i4 comes with two variants- xDrive and eDrive. However, in India, we only get the rear-wheel-drive eDrive40 variant equipped with an 83.9kWh battery pack. BMW i4 put down 340hp of power and 430Nm of torque, which can go 0-100 in just 5.7 seconds. The certified WLTP range of the i4 is 590km. Well, the real-world range figure may vary. However, one can expect a decent 400-450km of range when fully charged. Talking about the charging, the BMW i4 gets an 11kW wall box charger that can juice up the battery from 0-100 per cent in 8.5 hours.
The introductory price of Rs 69.90 lakhs looks quite competitive, and the bookings for the same have already been commenced, and one can expect delivery from July onwards. From hatchbacks to SUVs and now sedans, clearly and unquestionably, the future of the automobile industry is on the verge of an eventful transition stage.
