Executives at BMW recently announced the battery-powered sedan set to become the next generation of Neue Klasse vehicles alongside the iX3 SUV. Dubbed the i3, the sedan is the electric equivalent to the iconic 3-series.
Revealed today the i3 will replace BMW’s current EV offering, the i4.BMW first launched the i4 for the 2022 model year as a pure electric counterpart to the 4-series Gran Coupe.
Originally slated to run through at least 2027, BMW has pushed up the i4’s retirement to accommodate its next-gen EV platform. Although the model saw a slight power increase for its top-tier M50 trim, which grew by 56 hp to become the M60 earlier this year.
BMW made the decision to axe the i4 sooner rather than later because of its unavoidable redundancy with the i3. The i3 is only slightly larger than its i4 predecessor by 1.3 inches in height, 0.5 inches in width, but 1 inch shorter in length.
Pricing for the i3 has also yet to be confirmed, but we expect the vehicle to start around $53,000, about $6,000 less than the i4’s starting price.
With similar pricing the entry i4 simply doesn’t stack up when it comes to powertrain specifications. The yet-to-be-revealed i3 50 xDrive will be available on launch with its dual-motor all-wheel-drive system that generates 463 hp and a claimed range of 440 miles. The i4’s most efficient version uses its single motor rear-wheel-drive system with a 335 hp output that maxes out at 318 miles.
One area the i4 does hold over the i3 is its spacious liftback. Instead of the i4’s gaping rear hatch the i3 features a normal sedan trunk. BMW product management official Bernd Koerben said there’s a chance we could see a future i4 with a sportier coupe-like profile and sloping roof. But until then fans of the sleek profile will have to wait.
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