BMW Australia says a single new variant of BMW i4 electric sedan will be arriving in Australia by the end of the year, priced from $88,990, before on road costs, and remaining below the Luxury Car Tax threshold.
The BMW i4 eDrive35 will be the only variant available and follows the ending of the previous eDrive 40 and M50 variants. And while the price has slid up by $1,100, it still sits below the LCT threshold of $91,387 and it boasts improved range and standard equipment.
The newi4 has undergone updates to its interior and exterior and now includes the M Sport Package as standard equipment. This includes a variant-specific front apron, side skirts, rear bumper, diffuser element, a new BMW kidney grille with a diamond textured surface, and new headlights.
The i4 is also fitted with 18-inch M light alloy wheels as standard – though 19- and 20-inch wheel designs are available as options.
Inside, a new flat-bottomed M leather steering wheel with a 12 o’clock marker accompanies seat heating for both front seats. An electric glass sunroof is now included as standard, and a new operating concept for the ventilation and climate control functions deliver what BMW hopes is a “premium touch”.
On top of the interior and exterior improvements, the new i4 eDrive35 is now fitted with silicon carbide semiconductor components in its power electronics, which BMW claims reduces consumption by around 4.5 per cent on average.
As a result, driving range has been increased by 18 kilometres, giving the i4 a driving range of 448km according to the ADR 81/02 testing cycle.
Fifth generation BMW eDrive technology consisting of a 66.4 kilowatt-hour (kWh) (net) high-voltage battery is paired with a rear-mounted current-excited synchronous electric motor putting out maximum power and torque of 210 kW and 400Nm.
Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes six seconds, and 180 kW DC charging from 10 to 80 per cent reportedly takes only 32 minutes (7 hours from 0 to 100 per cent on 11 kW AC charging).
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.