2022 BMW i4 price and specs: $99,900 before on-road costs for Tesla Model 3 rival
BMW's upcoming mid-size i4 electric sedan will offer a choice of two variants when it launches next year, including an M3-scaring M50 performance halo.
- 2022 BMW i4 pricing and specifications
- New electric sedan here early next year in two variants
- 19-inch wheels, LED lights, twin screens standard across the range
- Priced from $99,900 to $124,900 before on-road costs
Australian pricing and specifications for the 2022 BMW i4 has been announced, with Germany's new Tesla Model 3 rival just sliding in under $100,000 before on-road costs.
Two variants of the new i4 will be offered in BMW Australia showrooms from its local launch in early 2022: the rear-wheel-drive i4 eDrive40, priced from $99,990 before on-road costs, and the performance-focused i4 M50, priced from $124,900 before on-road costs.
While the eDrive40's specifications slot between or just above Standard Range Plus and Long Range AWD versions of the Tesla Model 3, the BMW's American rival has the edge on price, from $59,990 before on-road costs for the Standard Range Plus, to $73,400 before on-road costs for the Long Range.
The petrol-powered BMW 430i Gran Coupe is priced from $83,900 before on-road costs, with comparable acceleration and a similar rear-wheel-drive layout to the new BMW EV.
Above, in blue: BMW i4 M50. Below, in white: European-spec BMW i4 eDrive40, without the M Sport package.
The flagship i4 M50 matches up against the Model 3 Performance, with a $124,900 before on-road costs sticker for the BMW versus an $86,929 before on-road costs price for the Tesla – though it offers comparable performance to the pricier, petrol-powered BMW M3 Competition, which costs from $154,900 before on-road costs.
Powering the i4 eDrive40 is a single 250kW/430Nm electric motor on the rear axle, paired with an 80.7kWh (net) lithium-ion battery for a 5.7-second 0-100km/h sprint time, and a 590km WLTP driving range – the latter exceeding the Tesla Model 3 Long Range's 580km claim.
Charging is covered by 200kW DC capabilities, enabling a 10 to 80 per cent recharge in 31 minutes, and the ability for up to 164km of range to be added in 10 minutes (from a 10 per cent state of charge). Regenerative braking at up to 116kW is on offer.
Standard equipment is plentiful, including 19-inch wheels, adaptive dampers, LED headlights, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen (running BMW's latest iDrive 8 software), a 10-speaker sound system, and a full suite of advanced safety and driver assistance aids.
Buyers get a five-year/unlimited-energy subscription to the Chargefox public fast-charging network as standard, along with Mode 2 and Mode 3 charging cables.
The flagship i4 M50 – the first electric vehicle tuned by BMW's hallowed M division – upgrades to dual electric motors, developing 350kW and 730Nm in normal driving, or 400kW and 795Nm during 10-second periods of overboost.
BMW quotes a 3.9-second sprint from zero to 100km/h – on par with the rear-wheel-drive, petrol-powered M3 Competition sedan – towards a top speed of 225km/h. Range falls to 510km on the WLTP cycle – 57km behind the Model 3 Performance's 567km claim.
The M50 can also charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 31 minutes, though a 10-minute stint on a charger will only deliver up to 140km of driving range. Maximum regenerative braking power increases to 195kW.
Equipment additions over the base car include performance tyres, a rear lip spoiler, M Performance styling elements, heated front seats, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system, an electric glass roof, and laser headlights.
A range of optional packages are available across the range – these are detailed, along with full pricing and specification lists, at the bottom of this story.
First Australian deliveries of the new 2022 BMW i4 will commence in the first quarter of 2022 (January to March inclusive).
2022 BMW i4 Australian pricing
- i4 eDrive40 – $99,900
- i4 M50 – $124,900
Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.
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2022 BMW i4 eDrive40 standard features:
- 19-inch M Light alloy wheels
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 14.9-inch iDrive 8 infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, DAB+ digital radio and satellite navigation
- Head-up display
- M Sport exterior and interior styling package
- M Sport brakes
- Adaptive M suspension
- Vernasca leather upholstery
- Front sports seats with electric adjustment
- LED headlights with auto high-beams
- Keyless entry
- Power tailgate
- Ambient cabin lighting
- 10-speaker Hi-Fi sound system
- Wireless smartphone charging
- BMW IconicSounds Electric
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go
- Lane-keep assist
- Lane-following assist
- Front and rear cross-traffic alert
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Semi-automatic parking
- Five-year Chargefox subscription
- Mode 2 and Mode 3 chargers
2022 BMW i4 M50 adds (over i4 eDrive40):
- M Performance styling and chassis tuning
- Heated front seats
- Lumbar support
- Laser headlights (BMW Laserlight)
- Electric glass roof
- 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system
- 19-inch M Light alloy wheels with non-runflat performance tyres
- M Technology Package
- M rear lip spoiler
- Metallic paint
The optional $5800 Visibility Package, available on eDrive40, adds:
- Metallic paint
- Electric glass roof
- Laser headlights
The optional Comfort Package, available on eDrive40 ($1500) and M50 ($1300), adds:
- Heated steering wheel
- Lumbar support (already standard on M50)
- Heated front seats (already standard on M50)
- Heated rear seats (M50 only)
The optional M Sport Plus Package, available on eDrive40 ($1700) and M50 ($1200), adds:
- M Lights Shadowline
- M seat belts
- M rear lip spoiler (already standard on M50)
- M high-gloss Shadowline (black exterior trim) with 'extended contents'
The optional Executive Package, available on eDrive40 ($3600) and M50 ($2100), adds:
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Alarm system
- Sun protection glazing
- 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system (already standard on M50)
- BMW Drive Recorder (dashcam-like system)
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