2022 marked the fiftieth anniversary of BMW Motorsport GmbH. To have fun half a century of all issues M, the go-faster division revealed an i4 M50-based prototype with 4 electrical motors for infinitely adjustable torque vectoring at every wheel.
Geared up with Michelin Pilot Alpin rubber boots measuring 285/40 by 19 inches out again in comparison with the i4 M50’s 255/45 by 18-inch tires, the camouflaged prototype additional boasts a pair of black entrance splitter extensions up entrance, and M3 CS-like hood, and the M3 CS-specific kidney grille besides.
In comparison with the primary iterations of the yet-to-be-named efficiency battery-electric car, this fellow additionally differs by the use of a redesigned bumper out again and a refined decklid spoiler. The listing continues with an upgraded braking system with bigger brake rotors and vibrant red-painted calipers.
Fitted with mismatched double-spoke wheels fore and aft, the thriller mannequin is much more mysterious below the pores and skin. The rumor mill is break up between the i4’s CLAR-derived platform and the upcoming Neue Klasse platform, with the latter resulting from enter sequence manufacturing in July 2025 with the second-generation iX3 on the Debrecen plant in Hungary.
Photograph: Baldauf
The zero-emission sibling of the inner combustion-engined X3 will likely be joined by the i3 sedan and longroof, which will likely be produced in parallel with the four- and six-cylinder G20 and G21. The NA0 and NA1 are anticipated to start sequence manufacturing in November 2026 for MY2027.
Contemplating that November 2026 is greater than three and a half years away from the second of reporting, the i4 M doubtless makes use of CLAR underpinnings. The 5 Collection-based BMW Energy BEV from 2019 that the German automaker lovingly dubs Lucy develops in extra of 710 horsepower and 848 pound-feet (make that 1,150 Nm in metric) from a three-motor setup, that means that BMW M may very effectively squeeze out a cool 1,000 from the i4 M.
Sadly, it’ll additionally weigh quite a bit for a D-segment mannequin. For reference, the i4 M50 and the i5 M60 are rated in Europe at 2,215 kilograms (4,883 kilos) and a pair of,305 kilograms (5,082 kilos), respectively. We additionally should keep in mind that BMW’s strongest series-production EV so far is the i7 M70, which belts out 650 horsepower and suggestions the scales at 2,695 kilos (5,941 kilos).
No matter curb weight, platform, and identify, this quad-motor thriller is definite to sway a number of potential clients away from the six-cylinder M3 and the likes of the Tesla Mannequin 3 Ludicrous.
