Topic: BMW i4 Electric Sedan

[JohnnyMac]

i4 starts at $55 and i4 M50 starts at $73…Canadian build and price is up.

That's not too bad me think... The specs are impressive, even for the base model. Good for them not to give up on the sedan.

I dunno. That's the RWD model, which no one in Canada will buy. And in order to get heated seats you need to spring for the $7900 premium essential package.

The M50 model is $76k with fees and without a heated steering wheel or leather seats. Realistically the i4 is an $80k+ car in Canada.

Most of the Model 3s I see around here, and there are many, are the RWD models. So I beg to differ. Maybe it's different in NB, but that's a small market.

Am I wrong to say that the Model 3 base model qualifies for the federal and provincial rebate?  Doesn't it have a starting price of under $45K?  With the BMW not qualifying for either the federal or provincial rebate, it's in essence about $15-$20K more than the base model Model 3.

[Hannibalsmith]

i4 starts at $55 and i4 M50 starts at $73…Canadian build and price is up.

That's not too bad me think... The specs are impressive, even for the base model. Good for them not to give up on the sedan.

I dunno. That's the RWD model, which no one in Canada will buy. And in order to get heated seats you need to spring for the $7900 premium essential package.

The M50 model is $76k with fees and without a heated steering wheel or leather seats. Realistically the i4 is an $80k+ car in Canada.

Most of the Model 3s I see around here, and there are many, are the RWD models. So I beg to differ. Maybe it's different in NB, but that's a small market.

Am I wrong to say that the Model 3 base model qualifies for the federal and provincial rebate?  Doesn't it have a starting price of under $45K?  With the BMW not qualifying for either the federal or provincial rebate, it's in essence about $15-$20K more than the base model Model 3.

You're correct on both fronts...but its a BMW and looks the part, in my opinion

[JohnnyMac]

i4 starts at $55 and i4 M50 starts at $73…Canadian build and price is up.

That's not too bad me think... The specs are impressive, even for the base model. Good for them not to give up on the sedan.

I dunno. That's the RWD model, which no one in Canada will buy. And in order to get heated seats you need to spring for the $7900 premium essential package.

The M50 model is $76k with fees and without a heated steering wheel or leather seats. Realistically the i4 is an $80k+ car in Canada.

Most of the Model 3s I see around here, and there are many, are the RWD models. So I beg to differ. Maybe it's different in NB, but that's a small market.

Am I wrong to say that the Model 3 base model qualifies for the federal and provincial rebate?  Doesn't it have a starting price of under $45K?  With the BMW not qualifying for either the federal or provincial rebate, it's in essence about $15-$20K more than the base model Model 3.

You're correct on both fronts...but its a BMW and looks the part, in my opinion

Oh I think the BMW is worth every penny more than the Model 3.  Much better fit and finish.

[OliverD]

i4 starts at $55 and i4 M50 starts at $73…Canadian build and price is up.

That's not too bad me think... The specs are impressive, even for the base model. Good for them not to give up on the sedan.

I dunno. That's the RWD model, which no one in Canada will buy. And in order to get heated seats you need to spring for the $7900 premium essential package.

The M50 model is $76k with fees and without a heated steering wheel or leather seats. Realistically the i4 is an $80k+ car in Canada.

Most of the Model 3s I see around here, and there are many, are the RWD models. So I beg to differ. Maybe it's different in NB, but that's a small market.

It may be true for Teslas, but probably not for BMWs. The last time I checked there was not a single RWD 330e in inventory in the country. All 43 on AutoTrader are xDrive. When Porsche brought in a bunch of RWD Panamera hybrids they languished on dealer lots for a long time. I think the same happened with the F30 330e which was RWD only. RWD luxury cars are basically unsellable in Canada.

[JohnnyMac]

i4 starts at $55 and i4 M50 starts at $73…Canadian build and price is up.

That's not too bad me think... The specs are impressive, even for the base model. Good for them not to give up on the sedan.

I dunno. That's the RWD model, which no one in Canada will buy. And in order to get heated seats you need to spring for the $7900 premium essential package.

The M50 model is $76k with fees and without a heated steering wheel or leather seats. Realistically the i4 is an $80k+ car in Canada.

Most of the Model 3s I see around here, and there are many, are the RWD models. So I beg to differ. Maybe it's different in NB, but that's a small market.

It may be true for Teslas, but probably not for BMWs. The last time I checked there was not a single RWD 330e in inventory in the country. All 43 on AutoTrader are xDrive. When Porsche brought in a bunch of RWD Panamera hybrids they languished on dealer lots for a long time. I think the same happened with the F30 330e which was RWD only. RWD luxury cars are basically unsellable in Canada.

I think you'd see more of those sold you have listed if they actually qualified for the federal and provincial rebates.  But yes, RWD sedans are a dying breed, does Mercedes even sell any in Canada?  Lexus only has a couple of IS models that are RWD now.

[OliverD]

The 330e does qualify for the rebates.

The only RWD Mercedes sedan left is the C63.

[JohnnyMac]

Well looks like the BMW i4 M50 is getting loads of reviews the last 24 hours.  Looks like an excellent choice for someone looking for a performance based EV. 

Here's a question I have, for those out there that love ICE engines, is there a point when the price of fuel will make you switch to EV's, and at what point?  For me personally if gas gets to $2/L I might just have to go with an EV like this.  As much as I'd love a supercharged V8, I just can't justify the extra cost over something like this.

[EV Dan]

^^ I was watching one of these reviews and nearly fell asleep 

Seriously though, what an amazing car. Vault quiet, all wheel traction, immediate throttle response, multiple regen options, neck breaking acceleration and no more looking for cheap gas. One guy mentioned it wasn't as energy efficient as the Model 3 but it's not bad for a car that wasn't built on a dedicated EV platform. Give it several years and BEV will be the only way to go if you want performance.

[JohnnyMac]

You know what would be ideal, a PHEV performance car.  One that has a V8, manual power to rear wheels and an electric motor driving the front wheels.  The ability to turn off the electric power and just have pure RWD.  Be able to drive 40kms on electric power alone, and a snow/winter/wet setting where it makes the car AWD (but RWD biased).

Of course if I am dreaming I'd like at least 400HP from the V8 and 200HP from the electric motor.  It would weigh less than 4,000lbs, have hydraulic steering, and be less than $80,000.

Is that to much to ask for?

[Ex-airbalancer]

You know what would be ideal, a PHEV performance car.  One that has a V8, manual power to rear wheels and an electric motor driving the front wheels.  The ability to turn off the electric power and just have pure RWD.  Be able to drive 40kms on electric power alone, and a snow/winter/wet setting where it makes the car AWD (but RWD biased).

Of course if I am dreaming I'd like at least 400HP from the V8 and 200HP from the electric motor.  It would weigh less than 4,000lbs, have hydraulic steering, and be less than $80,000.

Is that to much to ask for?

Why ?
Give a EV LS !

[Triple Bob]

You know what would be ideal, a PHEV performance car.  One that has a V8, manual power to rear wheels and an electric motor driving the front wheels.  The ability to turn off the electric power and just have pure RWD.  Be able to drive 40kms on electric power alone, and a snow/winter/wet setting where it makes the car AWD (but RWD biased).

Of course if I am dreaming I'd like at least 400HP from the V8 and 200HP from the electric motor.  It would weigh less than 4,000lbs, have hydraulic steering, and be less than $80,000.

Is that to much to ask for?

Yes but there's absolutely no point. Once you get rid of the ICE completely you massively simplify the design of the car and the overall maintenance. Once the battery and charging tech get there (I'm guessing by 2025) buying a gas car will be a moronic move for anyone with easy access to a charging point.

[Ontariodriver]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PPnuy0AYZ8

BMW i4 M50 review, It's really expensive. 

[EV Dan]

https://insideevs.com/news/556828/bmw-i4-epa-range-301miles/

YMMV, a lot, depending on the choice of wheels.

(full specs released)

[Triple Bob]

The M version is a much more compelling offering than the Mach E GT.  It frankly isn’t close unless you want a cross over.

How is the BMW so cheap? $58K is great for that performance (lower spec model)

[EV Dan]

^^^

i4 starts at $55 and i4 M50 starts at $73…Canadian build and price is up.

That's not too bad me think... The specs are impressive, even for the base model. Good for them not to give up on the sedan.

I dunno. That's the RWD model, which no one in Canada will buy. And in order to get heated seats you need to spring for the $7900 premium essential package.

The M50 model is $76k with fees and without a heated steering wheel or leather seats. Realistically the i4 is an $80k+ car in Canada.

Just looked at the configurator. The package shows at $9400 and comes with power seats, heated seats, heated steering wheel, if I understand correctly. I just don't think the base 55k model will even be available, other than on paper.

[EV Dan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFjyRFYBQXI

i4 M50 detailed test drive with a 0-60 

[Blueprint]

A neighbour had placed an order for an i4 iDrive40 last Spring, and the car just came in - white with red interior  Replaces her 3-Series. Will have to investigate...