BMW i4 M50

A year after being announced for the local market, BMW’s all-electric performance Gran Coupe is now in Malaysia, the BMW i4 M50.

It’s bred as BMW’s first electric M-badged model, and underpins the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology.

The sole variant hailing from Germany (fully-imported (CBU)), flanks the regular i4 variants (eDrive35, eDrive35 M Sport, eDrive40).

Pricing, it tags at MYR 430,210 (standard - two-year warranty), and MYR 445,800 (extended - five-year unlimited mileage warranty, free service package). 

Meanwhile, the battery is covered separately by an eight-year/160,000 KM warranty (whichever comes first). 

Standard fitment all around is the BMW M 50 Years emblem, and the M Sport and M High-gloss Shadowline packages.

Five exterior colours. Mineral White, Black Sapphire, Sanremo Green, M Portimao Blue and M Brooklyn Grey. 

Radiating premium craftsmanship, the dashboard of the i4 M50 sees a modern, clean-cut and flat design all around.

Courtesy of the M treatment, it’s draped in Sensatec black leather, and accentuated by carbon fibre with Pearl Chrome trim.

Main highlight being the massive one-piece BMW Curved Display, integrated and taking command of the top half of the dash. 

Overall, the layout arrangement is well put with every accessibility, of which the controls get a galvanic finish, having easy reachability and driver-oriented.

Inside, the interior comes with two upholstery schemes. Leather Vernasca in black or Cognac with blue contrast or black decor stitching.

Equipped are M Sport seats (front) with electric adjustments including backrest width and a memory function (driver), and a 40:20:40 split-fold configuration (rear).

Also, featured is a specially designed M badge on the front seat headrests, M tricolour seat belts, and an Anthracite M headliner.

A full-fledged five-seater, it offers generous head, shoulder and legroom, thus front and rear occupants get ample space. 

The spaciousness is more than sufficient for a saloon, and is partly due to its long and borderline wide build.

Fitted is a three-spoke style M steering wheel, wrapped in ‘Walknappa’ black leather with M colours contrasting stitching and an M badge.

It features multifunction buttons (media, vehicle settings), tilt and telescopic adjustments, and Electric Power Steering (EPS).

Featuring the Storage Compartment package, it sees numerous storage areas including side door pockets, compartmentalised and caverned spaces in the centre console, armrest pockets and a decent-sized glove box.

Accessing its automatic-operated tailgate (handsfree), opens up to a load space of 470-Litres, and up to 1,290-Litres with the rear seats down. 

Weighing in at 2,290 KG, the i4 M50 is 4,783 MM long, 2,073 MM wide, 1,448 MM tall, and has a wheelbase spanning 2,856 MM.

Sportily elegant with an imposingly commanding presence, its long front overhang forms an aggressively prowling-like silhouette. 

The front end commanded by the closed-off M kidney grille features the M badge on the grille in place of the ‘i’ logo.

Then, decked with the Shadowline treatment, it sees a gloss black border with dark grey pinstriping on the grille, and blacked-out corner air inlets and side mirrors.

Portraying an athletically sculpted design, the rear end matches the front with solidly strong proportions.

Treated with the M Sport kit, it sees a body-coloured M rear spoiler, and a large diffuser in black which is also detailed with the dark grey pinstriping.

Overall, it looks sharp, clean and seamless, emphasising its elegantly aggressive demeanour.

Contributing to a fierce and focused looking outlook, installed is a pair of inward-tilted and angularly-contoured headlamp design.

They are full LED units (BMW Adaptive Laserlight) with L-shape LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), cornering light function and high-beam assistant.

Slim, sharp and wrapped-around, the tail lamps hold a very striking presence, gelling well with all the other sporty elements present.

They are fitted with LED combination units, and matching the front DRLs, they feature an inverted L-shape light graphic.

It rides on a set of 20-Inch BMW Individual Aerodynamic 862 bicolour M light alloy rims, wrapped in 245/35 R20 (front) and 255/35 R20 (rear) tyres.

Three drive modes at the driver’s disposal, and they are Sport, Comfort, and Eco Pro. Each mode correlates with the BMW M IconicSounds Electric feature (BMW M emotive engine sounds).

Featuring the other half of the BMW Curved Display, the infotainment sees a 14.9-Inch central touchscreen, running BMW Live Cockpit Professional on the latest BMW Operating System 8. 

It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, 5G network, BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, and vehicle settings.

Fitted is an automatic transmission.

It dashes from 0 to 100 KM/H in just 3.9 seconds, and has an electronically-limited top speed of 225 KM/H.

Juiced-up by an 83.9-KWH Lithium-Ion battery, the e-motors provide a driving range of 510 KM (WLTP) on a single charge.

A 0% to 100% state-of-charge (SoC) takes eight hours and 15 minutes (11-KW AC charger), while 10% to 80% SoC takes 31 minutes (205-KW DC charger).

Also, included is a flexible charger and a public charging cable.

The Adaptive M Suspension Professional installed, provides a sporty handling without compromising comfort. 

Meanwhile, the Variable Sport Steering with M Sport brakes, ensures a responsively precision driving experience.

Overall, it is solid and extremely comfortable with a luxurious ride quality, refined and agile handling, and an electrifyingly smooth power delivery.

The first-ever BMW i4 M50 is an e-performance daily driver, enveloped by a luxuriously sporty appeal that commands a presence like no other.

Harbouring a formidable dynamic powertrain, the fifth-gen BMW eDrive technology, it offers an all-electric driving experience only a BMW is able to.

Its athletically striking exterior is very well designed with the angular proportions and powerful contours, donating to a strong and solid build.

Quality of the materials installed inside and outside, impresses with the upscale, mature design and restrained detailing.

All in all, the first-ever BMW i4 M50 is just a strong character, a great sedan that offers a sophisticatedly edgy outlook, sporty electric performance and practicality all in one.