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BMW to offer three electric i4 models, but no plug-in hybrid – report

The electric 4 Series will adopt the brand's traditional nomenclature, but don't count on a plug-in hybrid.


The 2022 BMW i4 will be offered in three variants when it goes on sale, with the company adopting its traditional naming conventions for the electric vehicle.

According to multiple sources, including BMW Blog, it's suggested BMW will initially offer a mid-spec i440, which is expected to use a single electric motor to drive the rear wheels. Rumours suggest power will be somewhere around 225kW, but may have an 'overboost' feature allowing a shot of up to 250kW for overtaking.

The flagship is expected to be the i4 M50 xDrive – tuned by BMW's M division, the model will produce approximately 340kW from two electric motors (one mounted on each axle), making the M50 the only all-wheel-drive i4 in the range. An 'overboost' feature may also appear.

In September 2020, BMW M boss Markus Flasch said a performance i4 wearing the iconic M badge was coming.

"Next year we will launch the first battery-electric M car in the performance segment, based on the i4, as something to confirm," Flasch said at the time.

Above: The BMW i4 M model caught testing earlier this year.

Yet to be confirmed, however, is the i4's entry-level variant, with industry rumours suggesting the vehicle will be badged as an i435. This is thought to be coming at a later date, with the more premium offerings to be rolled out initially.

Despite BMW unveiling its 'Power of Choice' strategy earlier this year – in which the company says it will offer the widest variety of powertrains for each model – the recently-unveiled 4 Series is set to miss out on a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option.

During a roundtable with Australian media last week, 4 Series project manager Andreas Ederer confirmed a "plug-in hybrid is not planned for the 4 Series".

In July 2020, a spokesperson for BMW Australia told CarAdvice "The advent of new electrified models in the future perfectly complements our Power of Choice strategy, where we aim to give customers the opportunity to purchase a particular model with either a petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid or full electric drive system".

For the moment, it seems the company's coupe variants – being the 2 Series, 4 Series, and 8 Series – are being passed-over for a plug-in hybrid option, with the powertrain only being fitted to family-friendly models.

The all-electric BMW i4 is expected to go into production in November 2021.


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Ben Zachariah

Ben Zachariah is an experienced writer and motoring journalist from Melbourne, having worked in the automotive industry for more than two decades. Ben began writing professionally more than 15 years ago and was previously an interstate truck driver. He completed his MBA in Finance in early 2021 and is considered an expert on classic car investment.

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