Cars

Electric BMW i4 packs a punch

BMW i4
BMW i4 BMW i4

BMW's new i4 electric car will have a range of up to 367 miles and start from £51,905 when it arrives this November.

Aesthetically it's an enormous improvement on the company's other new electric offering, the hideous iX SUV.

Anyway, the first i4 models to reach us are a 335bhp eDrive40 - either in Sport or M Sport trims - and a range-topping M50 xDrive that packs 536bhp.

The eDrive40's electric motor sends drive to the rear wheels and has a range of up to 367 miles. It does 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds and has a top speed of 118mph.

The i4 M50 - the first fully-electric M car - has two electric motors, with one at the front and another at the back for all-wheel-drive capability.

Its range is lower - up to 316 miles - but it is even quicker, with BMW quoting a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 140mph.

BMW i4
BMW i4 BMW i4

Prices for the i4 M50 start from £63,905. And in one of film score genius Hans Zimmer's stranger collaborations, the M50 also features an 'acceleration sound' he has written for the car.

The i4 is around the same size as a BMW 3 Series. Its 80.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack is mounted in the car's floor.

Both versions have rear air springs, with the M50 also having adaptive dampers and anti-roll bars.

Inside, both cars get a 12.3-inch infotainment system with BMW's latest iDrive software, complemented by a 14.9-inch digital dial display.

Three-zone climate control is standard, too, while regular i4 models also get 17- or 18-inch wheels and a sports leather steering wheel.

Move up to M Sport and you'll find 18-inch M aerodynamic wheels added alongside a full M Sport exterior styling pack and anthracite trim.

The M50 gets an upgraded body styling pack with additional side air intakes for enhanced brake cooling, as well as grey-coloured exterior mirror caps and rear apron inlays.