BMW i4

The BMW i4 is an all-electric five-door liftback styled sedan made by German automobile manufacturer BMW, marketed as a four-door coupé with sales commencing in 2021. The initial concept version, named BMW i Vision Dynamics, debuted at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. It is the fifth BMW i sub-brand model, and will be sold in several variants at different performance levels.
Development and launch.
An investment of about in the Munich plant was made in preparation for the 2021 series production as the BMW i4 is built on the same assembly line as cars with combustion engines and plug-in hybrids. While 90% of the existing production equipment in the body shop were incorporated into the production process of the i4, several new systems were required mainly for the floor assembly and rear structure as the electric drive and high-voltage battery are different from conventional architectures. The plant was closed for six weeks in the summer of 2020 to convert more than 1000 robots in the body shop and assembly area to prepare it for the assembly of the i4. The electric motor is assembled in Dingolfing. The i4 was revealed fully production-ready in March 2021, three months ahead of schedule, and will be available for sale in Autumn 2021.
The production model is based on the modular CLAR platform to keep costs low and volume-production attainable. It is described as a battery-powered G20 3 Series and is technically closely related to the G24 4 Series Gran Coupé. The i4 has a damping system designed to reduce “dipping movements of the body” under acceleration or braking, with an “actuator-related wheel slip limitation” system to better boost traction and stability.
The electric drive component of the i4, its charging unit and high-voltage battery are all developed in-house by the BMW Group, forming the fifth-generation eDrive system. A notable technical feature of the i4's powertrain concerns its packaging. The electric motor, transmission and power electronics are all contained in a single component, which allows for a higher efficiency of energy conversion. BMW also focussed on reducing the number of rare earth materials in the battery and electric motor system. None are used to construct the motor, while the battery uses two thirds less cobalt than before.
The fifth-generation eDrive system supports up to 150 kW DC fast charging. The 80 kWh battery pack, which weighs roughly , can be charged to 80 percent in 35 minutes or six minutes for a range of . The batteries used in the i4 have a higher number of cells per module, a reduced number of components, a more compact design and increased flexibility concerning their geometry. The high-voltage battery is characterized by its extremely flat design and optimized energy density. Due to bulky batteries that reduce on-road handling, the i4 utilize lightweight construction to make the model attractive in the electric market. 
Equipment.
All models feature the iDrive 8 infotainment system, including an updated voice-controlled assistant and gesture control system, while the iDrive controller is also retained on the centre console. The interface is sourced through the BMW Curved Display that combines the 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 14.9-inch infotainment system with a redesigned touch interface within a single unit. The iDrive 8 system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, compatible with 5G mobile technology, while third-party applications for communication and music streaming are also integrated within the system. A number of ambient lighting elements are placed throughout the cabin and change color depending on the driving mode. The iDrive 8 system is integrated with the new My BMW App for smartphones.
Specifications.
The model planned to be introduced at launch is the i4 eDrive40 with a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive layout. Additional power and range models will be available. The M-branded i4 M50 xDrive with a dual-motor xDrive all-wheel system will be the first battery-electric vehicle by BMW's motorsport division. The base model i4 eDrive35 will arrive at a later date. 
Concept cars.
BMW i Vision Dynamics (2017).
The initial BMW i Vision Dynamics concept debuted at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, and was built on the flexible CLAR platform rather than a carbon-fibre structure as with the contemporary i3 and i8 electric models. It was powered by a single electric motor on the rear axle. The car had projected performance figures of 0–100 km/h in 4.0 seconds, and a top speed of over . BMW's range goal for the i Vision Dynamics was on the European WLTP cycle. The design of the i Vision Dynamics was based on the study Vision Next 100 from 2016.
Although the interior was not finished, BMW promised a great view outwards via the "flush integration of glass into the main body". Controversially, the i Vision Dynamics featured a reworking of the double-kidney grille that covered a plethora of sensors. Depending on the legal environment, BMW intimated that the goal was to launch the production car with the capability to work at Level 3 or Level 4 autonomous driving, which require differing types of human input depending on circumstances.
The production version was announced at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show as the BMW i4. At the 2018 Paris Motor Show, BMW confirmed the launch year for the i4 as being 2021. 
BMW Concept i4 (2020).
The BMW Concept i4 was presented in March 2020 and reiterated a lot of i4’s specifications that was shared at the LA Auto Show in November 2019. The design language of the Concept i4 more closely resembles the production model than the i Vision Dynamics. The single rear-motor was projected to be rated at that was on par with one of BMW’s V8 combustion engines, though media doubted this claim as V8’s are connected to a xDrive system. It was clarified that the i4 would come with an EPA-estimated range of from an 80 kWh battery pack, though the production model has an EPA-rated range of .
The concept featured a stretched wheelbase with BMW claiming it would offer plenty of cabin space. The highly futuristic and minimalistic interior was dominated by the BMW Curved Display that was angled toward the driver, featuring the newest BMW Operating System 8. Other notable features was an all-glass roof, mixture of cloth and leather in the seats and dash with bronze and chrome fixtures, and replacement of touchpoints with crystal-like plastic.