BMW i4 revealed

The all-electric BMW 14 concept has been unveiled following cancellation of the Geneva International Motor Show due to coronavirus (Covid-19) concerns where it was to be displayed.

The BMW Group says the reveal opens a new chapter in its history, with the BMW i4 four-door Gran Coupe due to enter production in 2021.

“The BMW Concept i4 brings electrification to the core of the BMW brand,” BMW Group design senior vice president Adrian van Hooydonk says.

“The design is dynamic, clean and elegant. In short; a perfect BMW that happens to be zero emission.”

The drivetrain’s standout numbers include 600km range from the 80kW/h battery, 390kW output, 0-100km/h acceleration in about four seconds and a 200km/h plus top speed.

“With the BMW curved display, we have redefined BMW’s signature driver focus in an extremely elegant way,” BMW design head Domagoj Dukec says.

The concept i4 includes several exterior and interior design elements which will appear in both the BMW i4 and other electric production vehicles.

The exterior paint Frozen Light Copper reprises a colour nuance displayed by the BMW Vision iNext, creating a stunning effect.

The grille ‘kidneys’ become an intelligence panel, the side skirt mouldings conceal the battery technology, rear diffuser elements replace exhaust tailpipes, and it has distinctive wheel rims.

A host of other aerodynamic measures maximise the car’s electric range, BMW says.

The concept focuses on when the driver chooses to pilot the car, the information display and control display surfaces merging into a single unit inclined towards the driver.

This screen grouping optimises presentation of information and makes the display’s touch operation more intuitive, BMW says. Advanced display tech with non-reflective glass removes the need for shading.

The central control panel replaces a traditional gear lever with a toggle-type shifter. Elements such as the iDrive Controller and seat memory buttons in the doors are in crystal glass. Seats have a cloth/leather combination and a spacious rear compartment is tailored to passenger comfort.

Three ‘Experience Modes’ (Core, Sport and Efficient) span everything from how the user experiences the display and graphics to how the interior is presented.

In Core mode the user can navigate around the diagonal widgets using a swipe movement and arrange them intuitively by drag-and-drop, adapting the display to their personal preferences.

In Sport mode, the widgets come closer together and create a focussed view. Sideways movements behind the zones are used to show how tight the next corner is, facilitating anticipatory driving. The display’s right-hand area shows specific functions in a similar way to BMW M’s lap timer app.

Efficient mode debuts an ‘assisted driving view’, which shows the driver what the car’s sensors are detecting. The display right-hand area shows additional vehicle information, such as the charge level and range.

The BMW i4 concept has its own sound, ranging from the driving sounds in Core mode to more intense and pronounced sounds in Sport mode, including door opening and starting.

The company is investing about 200 million euros in Plant Munich for BMW i4 production.