Highlights
- Punchy performance
- Smooth ride
- Refined interior
- Packed with class-leading technology
Introduction
The first M car with all-electric power from BMW, the i4 M50, is a vehicle you do not forget in a hurry.
Low slung in time-honoured gran coupé tradition, beautifully balanced and dripping in high-tech kit, it possesses a volcanic degree of power – delivered in a measured yet relaxed manner.
Owners, whether they be committed enthusiasts or those who just want their car to be perfectly engineered, comfortable and rewarding to drive, are drawn to BMW models because they deliver on these demands.
Add the M for motorsport letter to the equation, as in the case of the i4 M50, and you have a lean, mean and also very green machine.
Powertrain and Performance
Based on the 4 Series compact executive line-up, the i4 offers fans of the Bavarian brand a choice of two battery sizes in the shape of the 70.2kWh unit powering the entry grade i4 eDrive35 model and the 80.7kWh pack in the eDrive40.
Unsurprisingly it is the latter you will find in the floor of the M50 and together with its pair of eDrive motors develops a whopping 544bhp in Sport Boost mode.
And while the other versions of the i4 can lay claim to a driving range varying from 299 to 365 miles, the M50 still has an official mark of 318 miles. In reality, this is closer to 275 miles, which is not to be sniffed at for a four-wheel drive vehicle of rare ability - to that end we are talking big numbers like a 0 to 62mph time of 3.9 seconds and a 139mph top speed.
As for charging, a 10 to 80 percent stint at an ultra rapid station should take no more than 30 minutes, and you can also harness 71 miles of range in just 10 minutes. Using a home wallbox for a full charge takes 13 hours, making it more suited for an overnight job.
Our driving experience proved both enjoyable and informative.
It may be fairly compact but the i4 is nonetheless quite a heavy car, weighing in at more than two tonnes, and its performance over a variety of fast A-roads, rural lanes and two motorways was exceptional.
The M50’s balance, variable sport steering and ride quality – aided by the adaptive suspension standard on this model – was second to none. It is a really terrific all-round performer, albeit one with a stunning amount of power.
Mike Torpey
Interior and Practicality
Inside, the cabin materials are a blend of soft-touch plastics, brushed aluminium and leather with anthracite headlining.
Space up front is also more than adequate and acceptable in the back, though you would not want to be an adult in the centre rear position, in which legroom is compromised.
Equipment and Technology
In addition to a wealth of standard kit, you also get something called BMW IconicSounds Electric.
This is the result of a collaboration between BMW and celebrated film score producer Hans Zimmer which, according to the composer, creates “sounds that give drivers a comforting, cosy feeling even on a rainy morning”.
Otherwise, you get a pair of digital screens in a curved display and BMW’s iDrive operating system.
Plenty of extra-cost options are available like the Technology Plus Pack and Comfort Pack including on the M50, while you will also pay extra for 20-inch double-spoke jet black alloys with performance tyres, though M Sport brakes with red calipers come free of charge.
Summary
The BMW i4 M50 offers an incredible experience for drivers for all the reasons listed above, including immense power, plenty of tech and equipment, and efficient powertrains.
The top-of-the-range M50 specification also means that you will get the best that the i4 has to offer.
