BMW i4 All-new Tesla Model 3 rival has up to 523bhp and a range of up to 373 miles
Tesla Model 3 rival promises up to 373 miles between recharges On sale 2021 Price from £48,000 (est)
THE BMW i4 is further proof that executive car luxury and planet-saving electric power can go hand in hand.aiming to offer the same blend of comfort and long range that has made the Tesla Model 3 y off the proverbial shelves, the i4 is the third car in BMW’S i range of electric cars – a range that hasn’t been added to with any all-new models since the plug-in hybrid i8 sports car arrived in 2014.
Sporting the same enormous front grille design as the next-generation 4 Series coupé, this i4 concept is described as being close to production ready.
The i4 will be available with up to 523bhp from a single electric motor, as well as fourwheel drive. It can sprint to 62mph in less than four seconds – quicker than most versions of the Model 3 – and has an of cial range of up to 373 miles.
While the larger Tesla Model S luxury saloon offers slightly more range, at 379 miles on the WLTP test cycle, the i4 will comfortably get you farther between charges than its direct rivals. Energy is stored in an 80kwh battery pack.
Like the Model 3, cheaper versions of the i4 with a smaller battery and rear-wheel drive are likely to arrive soon after the car’s launch.
Inside, the i4 represents the next generation of BMW interiors, featuring a giant screen for both infotainment and digital instruments, but unlike most rivals, it can be controlled by a dial on the centre console rather than
FIRST LOOK being solely touch-sensitive, so it should be far easier to use on the move.
Buyers can choose between Core, Sport and Ef cient driving modes, which prioritise either range or performance.these modes alter the car’s infotainment graphics and interior lighting, as well as its suspension, and each has a unique sound developed in conjunction with composer Hans Zimmer.
Don’t expect pricing to be revealed until next year at the earliest, but we’d expect the i4 to start at around £48,000, making it competitive with the Model 3 Long Range.
The i4 is the rst of a number of new i-branded models that BMW plans to launch in the coming years.the full range, which will include small and large SUVS as well as replacements for today’s i3 hatchback and the i8, will be on sale by 2025.
The Formentor is lower and wider than the Ateca, with more pronounced haunches and a longer bonnet to go with its more dramatically sloped roo ine. It rides on standard 19in alloy wheels, which are available in an unusual copper nish that matches the colour of the Cupra badge.
Buyers can choose from a 306bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine and a plug-in hybrid setup that delivers 242bhp by combining a 1.4-litre petrol engine with an electric motor. This latter model has an of cial electric-only range of 31 miles, while both Formentor variants feature four-wheel drive and a dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
Adaptive suspension is standard, with this adjusting to suit both the conditions and the driving mode you’ve selected. Meanwhile, the interior is dominated by a 12.0in touchscreen infotainment system and is complemented by fully digital instruments that can be customised to show a range of information.
The Formentor is permanently connected to the internet, so you can access online services.and in a neat twist,the ambient interior lighting ashes yellow to warn you when a vehicle has entered your blindspot or if you try to open a door when a car, cyclist or pedestrian is passing by.
Pricing hasn’t yet been con rmed, but we’d expect the Formentor to start at about £45,000 when it goes on sale in the UK this autumn, compared with the £37,365 of the Cupra Ateca.