Report: BMW i4 M Coming, Won't Match M3 or M4's Performance
It won’t compete with the M3 and M4, but the "i4 M" could be similar to the M340i.
BMW debuted the potent M3 and M4this week, but we mustn't forget the automaker is also eyeing an all-electric 4. The BMW i4 debuted in concept form earlier this year, previewing a wildly styled sedan with performance to boot. Speaking withCarAdvice, BMW says the i4 will be the first electric car to get the M treatment, and it'll happen in 2021.
"Next year we will launch the first battery-electric M car in the performance segment, based on the i4, as something to confirm," Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW M, told the Australian publication. "Then we're working on hybrid electrified performance and high-performance cars, but it is too early to disclose which ones it is going to be."
It looks like the M-treated i4 won't compete with M3 and M4, though. As of now, Flasch says, the battery technology hasn't reached M-level performance just yet. This could mean the i4 M will be more comparable to the M340i.
"On the high-performance battery-electric technology, there is still some time that we need until technology is ready and can take it on with an existing high-performance car, like an M3 or M4," Flasch said. "This will take some more time, but we're working on that."
It's not just about power. BMW will also need to make sure steering, noise, and lateral dynamics match M performance standards, he noted. Another question is how to offer the M driving feel while managing the weight of a battery-electric car.
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It's unclear if the final i4 will deliver the same performance credentials as the concept. The concept sedan delivered up to 530 hp and could reach 60 mph in 4 seconds. The new 2021 BMW M3 and M4 make up to 503 hp via a twin-turbo six-cylinder.
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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