BMW i4 facelift: all-wheel drive model with 295 kW to be added
BMW is gently revamping the i4 after less than three years. A new all-wheel drive model with plenty of power has been added.
(Image: BMW)
BMW had miscalculated: When sales of the i4 started in November 2021, demand was greater than previously hoped for. As a result, waiting times increased enormously until BMW had ramped up production capacity. This is hardly surprising, because regardless of which of the three engines the saloon is equipped with, it drives as you would expect from a BMW. Now the model is being slightly revised, but those responsible saw no need to intervene deeply.
Hardly any changes
Attentive observers will notice the fine-tuning of the exterior details. The headlights and kidney grille have been minimally redesigned. A laser light is now available at the rear for an extra charge. Different rims and two new colors - that's all the changes. In the interior, too, everything remains largely as it was before. The air vents in the center have been redesigned and the sports steering wheels are now flattened at the bottom. BMW could not bring itself to return to round instruments on the display here either. However, if you like, you can get the gear selector lever in a glass look and order a new interior trim. BMW boasts that it has further reduced the number of buttons. The only thing we spontaneously noticed in this respect was that the steering wheel heating is no longer activated via a button on the steering wheel, but via the screen.
It remains OS8.5
The infotainment system has not been updated. On this basis, BMW is sticking with Operating System 8.5. Other models that came onto the market later than the i4 are now on OS9. However, this does not mean that BMW will no longer maintain this code base. It will continue to be provided with updates. Route guidance with charging stops is said to have been further improved. The i4 now connects to the network via 5G. Parking fees and bills for driving energy can now be paid digitally from the vehicle.
All-wheel drive model with 295 kW
An all-wheel drive model is being added to the existing three motorizations. The i4 xDrive40 delivers 295 kW and 600 Nm. This should be enough to accelerate the saloon to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds. Fuel consumption and range are provisional figures that may change slightly before the sales launch in summer. BMW specifies 16.6 to 20.5 kWh/100 km and a range of up to 548 km in the WLTP. The BMW i4 eDrive40 is expected to achieve up to 600 km in the cycle.
The energy content of the traction battery and charging capacity remain unchanged. The base model has a 67 kWh battery that can be charged with a maximum of 180 kW. All others have a storage unit with 81.1 kWh, which can be charged with up to 205 kW. The AC charging capacity remains unchanged at 11 kW. BMW is already one step ahead in this respect with other models, where 22 kW can also be used, at least for an extra charge. BMW will not reveal how much the revised version of the i4 will cost until the end of May. The base model i4 eDrive35 currently costs at least 56,500 euros.
(mfz)