Will the i4 M50 be the highest volume M product?

Already one of BMW’s most popular options, the i4 has reported wait times of up to 18 months. Earlier this year, BMW introduced the i4 Gran Coupe, which comes in two different versions: the i4 eDrive40 and the i4 M50. This time next year, you’ll be able to purchase the i4 eDrive35, the third and last type. Naturally, consumers are most interested in the i4 M50 because of its incredible acceleration. The 80.7 kWh battery pack powers the two electric motors, generating 536 hp and 586 lb-ft of torque together. We got a 0-60 mph timing of 3.9 seconds when using launch control. Customers are lined up to pre-order the M Performance electric vehicle, which is not surprising.

Weber claims that the highest volume M product they will have is the i4 M50.  They plan to raise output even further when they don’t anticipate any delays or shortages in chip supplies next year. They inquired which markets drive i4 demand the most, and Weber cited North America and Western Europe.  Driving experience aside, Weber claims customers are often shocked by how much the i4 feels like a BMW.

The head of R&D believes that the demand for the BMW i4 has surpassed their estimates and that the product is lower than he would like due to constraints in the supply chain. However, BMW has no plans to stop here. Weber claims six Gigafactories have been allocated at this time. They will be placed strategically near the factories producing electric automobiles to minimise transportation expenses. Weber further said that a single Gigafactory generates over 200 hectares of land.

BMW presented its next generation of battery technology this week, with plans to debut it in its “NEUE KLASSE” electric vehicles around the year 2025. It has traditionally employed a prismatic shape for its batteries, but the new cylindrical cells depart from that. BMW will use the many benefits cylindrical batteries have over prismatic cells. They hit the sweet spot’ for cylindrical batteries by settling on a diameter of 46 mm. It also counts on an 800-volt architecture, facilitating rapid charging from 10% to 80% battery capacity. BMW estimates charging times will be cut in half. BMW i4 vehicles have of course kept on using the Gen5 architecture.