M with electric power: We tested the BMW i4 M50

BMW’s range of electric vehicles is broad: there’s the iX, an unusual SUV with a body specifically designed for the electric “i” range, reminiscent of the earlier i3 and i8 models. Further on, there are electric versions of combustion engine models such as the i7, the future i5, the iX3 and iX1, up to and including the i4, an electric clone of the 4 Series Gran Coupé.

They are all based on the modular CLAR platform, which can be equipped with a combustion engine, hybrid or electric drive. That also means – and BMW emphasizes this – that the i4 still has the temperament of the Bavarian sports sedans despite the electric drive.

At first glance, the i4 looks nothing like its petrol brother, apart from the covered, oversized BMW kidney and the non-existent tailpipes at the rear.

The BMW i4 is available with three different engines: i4 eDrive35 with 210 kW (286 hp/400 Nm), i4 eDrive40 with 250 kW (340 hp/430 Nm) and as the top model the i4 M50 with 400 kW (544 hp/795 Nm) . ). The latter was made available to us for the test. It has a battery with a net capacity of 80.7 kWh, two motors – one on each axle – and therefore has the xDrive all-wheel drive and many other refinements such as the “M” chassis with electronic suspension.

The name M50 is no coincidence: the i4 M50 was the first BMW with an electric drive to be labeled “M-Motorsport”, a synonym for outspoken sportiness. Do you doubt that? Compare its specifications with those of the M4 Competition with combustion engine: 34 hp and 145 Nm more for the electric drive and the same acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. That goes without saying. The only (very) noticeable difference is the weight: 2290 kg for the i4 versus 1800 kg for the M4 Competition.

It’s no surprise that the i4’s streamlined interior is similar to that of the 4 Series Gran Coupé. Space is good and the sloping roofline reduces headroom for rear passengers only slightly. Under the tailgate is a generous load volume of 490 to 1290 litres.

The driver faces an inwardly curved double screen that houses all of the car’s controls – not just the instruments, but also air conditioning and connectivity. Despite our aversion to the trend of showing everything on the display, we have to admit that the interface is well thought out and easy to use, plus it works smoothly and quickly, which is really nice.

As the specs suggest, when pulling off the i4 M50 gives you the feeling of being catapulted. The traction is exemplary and that feeling of endless acceleration without loss of performance is fascinating. The only thing missing is the unmistakable sound of a 6-cylinder at full power. After all, the brilliant composer Hans Zimmer tried to compose an impressive background sound for the i4.

The i4 M50 surprises with its dynamics. The perfectly tuned chassis and the steering, which is exemplary in terms of power steering and feedback, provide a lot of fun, which is rare in this segment. And the best part is that the strong character of the BMW M is preserved. The car makes a flat turn, flies effortlessly from one hairpin to another, despite its 2 tons, which is noticeable faster compared to a petrol engine.

When driving fast, adaptive recuperation would have been nice for even more fun. However, since this mode is missing, you can usually drive with one pedal while cruising without having to press the brake pedal. The i4 M50 theoretically promises a range of 416 to 520 km, but in practice it is 350 to 400 km. The average consumption was 23.5 kWh/100 km, which is quite appropriate for the performance offered.

The BMW i4 M50 is available from CHF 86,900 and manages to combine BMW-typical driving pleasure with an electric drive. You start to doubt between an M with a combustion engine and an M with an electric drive…