At first glance, both the i4 and the 4 Series Gran Coupe sport slim headlights and that unmistakable vertically aligned BMW kidney grille.

But, the i4’s electric powertrain means it needs less cooling, so you’ll notice its kidney grille has a fully enclosed upper section. The i4 also gets an M Sport package as standard, with a diffuser element in the rear bumper.

On the flip side, the 4 Series Gran Coupe opts for a more traditional look. Its air intakes now feature a mesh structure in matte Quartz silver, and the twin exhausts have grown, now measuring a brawny 100mm in diameter, up from 90mm.

Then there’s the i4 M50 xDrive, which boasts a design clearly inspired by the M4. The iconic BMW kidney grille is decked out in high-gloss black, complete with the BMW M logo.

One thing all three cars share is BMW’s Adaptive LED headlights as standard. Rims-wise, the i4 rolls on 19-inch M aerodynamic wheels as standard, while the 4 Series Gran Coupe gets 18-inch M wheels. The i4 M50 xDrive, of course, comes with 19-inch M light alloy wheels.

Inside, all models now come with a newly designed M leather steering wheel. It’s got a three-spoke design with a flat-bottomed rim, and the i4 M50 xDrive even throws in BMW M-coloured decorative stitching and a bold red centre marker for good measure.

BMW’s latest iDrive system (BMW OS 8.5) with QuickSelect is also present, for controlling vehicle functions or accessing digital services. Most functions are now operated through touch or voice commands.

For those ready to embrace the electric revolution, BMW Asia is making the transition a breeze with a choice of two EV charging packages. Opt for home charging, and you’ll get a BMW Wallbox with complimentary installation.

Prefer to charge on the go and you’ll receive 10,000kWh of charging over three years at Shell Recharge stations.

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BMW has just lifted the veil on the latest upgrades to its all-electric i4 and the 4 Series Gran Coupe. At the forefront of this new wave of design, both models boast a redesigned front grille, with the i4 featuring a fresh mesh pattern.

This grille, surrounded by standard matt chrome or an optional gloss black, is accompanied by new headlights. These can now be upgraded to adaptive units with a matrix high beam, echoing the rear design of the BMW M4 CSL.

For those who wish to make an even bolder statement, BMW now offers the cars in new Cape York metallic and Fire Red metallic, alongside new 19-inch M aerodynamic wheels and 20-inch BMW Individual aerodynamic wheels.

Inside, the cabins of both models have seen significant enhancements. Standard features now include a sleek two-spoke steering wheel with illuminated multifunction buttons.

For those who crave a sportier touch, an M leather steering wheel with three spokes and a flat-bottomed rim is available.

BMW has also transitioned to its Operating System 8.5. This move sees a redesigned instrument panel that reduces button clutter, opting instead for a more streamlined gear selector and physical rotary controls for adjusting the air conditioning vents.

Ambient lighting now comes standard across both models, enhanced by contour lighting around the newly designed central seam vents, adding a touch of elegance and modernity to the driving experience.

Variants

The BMW i4 now has a new xDrive40 variant to its lineup, boasting a robust 396bhp and all-wheel drive. This addition promises a dynamic driving experience that’s both powerful and precise, and fills the gap between the i4 eDrive 35 and i4 m50.

Meanwhile, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe continues to offer a variety of engines, all linked to an 8-speed ZF transmission.

These range from the efficient 181bhp 2.0-litre engine in the BMW 420i Gran Coupe to the more vigorous 241bhp 2.0-litre engine in the BMW 430i xDrive Gran Coupe.

The standout remains the 430i xDrive Gran Coupe with a 368bhp 3.0-litre engine that delivers 500Nm of torque, allowing it to dash the century sprint in a mere 4.7 seconds.

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Think of this BMW i4 as an electric 4 Series four-door coupé and BMW’s tagline “the first-ever fully-electric Gran Coupé” makes sense. What you see here is the “entry-level” model called eDrive35, with the i4 M50 sitting above it. So, what does this i4 Gran Coupé (GC in short from now on) compete with in the Singapore market?

Nothing.

Nothing from Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Nothing from the Swedes. Nothing from the Japanese, Koreans and Chinese. Nothing. All the other electric vehicles (EVs) in its price segment are SUVs, leaving the i4 GC in a very unique position both in terms of market positioning and vehicle type.

Outside

The enlarged (some might say engorged) kidney grille has been debated ad nauseam both online and in print. Truth be told, I never once noticed it during my test drive, only in pictures while writing this review. I guess it’s offset by the design elements around it such as the sculpted front bumper, grilles and slim headlights to where one knows it’s there but doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb – even when outlined in electric blue. Naise!

245/40R19 and 255/40R19 Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 tyres wrap 19-inch rims in a staggered configuration front and rear respectively, and do a good job of both gripping well and remaining quiet over most types of tarmac.

Even though the test car did not come with adaptive dampers, this was still fine since the fixed-rate items – though noticeably sportily sprung – did a bang-up job of keeping the ride relatively smooth and soaking up most bumps very well. You won’t hear a peep outta me about how smaller rims with thicker-sidewall’d tyres would ride better.

Further espousing its green credentials is an electric blue hockey-stick motif on either side of the i4 GC which plays well with the test car’s darker grey colour and accentuates the side profile’s appearance cohesively.

Add to that the sloping roof line of the “Gran Coupé” and you have one very sharp-looking EV indeed.

The electric blue accents carry on to the rear diffuser, surrounding the area where exhaust pipes would be present in an internal combustion engine vehicle, further calling out the i4 GC’s green credentials.

Its rump is certainly a sight to behold. Curves play with chiselled edges and swooping taillights to combine into one gorgeous-looking package. Mmmmm…..

Inside

Click a button on the key fob or the boot lid and the liftback-type tailgate electrically swings open to reveal a very usable 470-litres of luggage capacity.

Need more? Drop the rear seatbacks and up to 1,290-litres of load-lugging space is made available.

One needs to take note of the sloping roofline while getting into the rear seats. With the driver’s seat in my preferred seating position (at 1.82-meters tall with longer limbs and shorter torso) I can just about sit behind myself but for shorter journeys of up to 30 minutes. Headroom is fine as well, and most people back here shouldn’t have an issue with needing to slouch.

The seats themselves are comfy and supportive, and three-zone climate control means that rear occupants can set their preferred temperature. Two USB Type-C ports are available to keep mobile devices charged. A fold-down centre armrest features two cupholders for refreshing beverages on longer journeys.

The front sports seats are electrically adjustable, with memory on the driver’s side. BMW sure knows how to make supportive sports seats, for the driver’s seat cosseted and supported me very well during my 500+km test drive.

I did, however, find myself wishing that the i4 GC came with a sunroof, for natural light streaming into the cabin would have helped it feel more airy.

The leather-wrapped sports steering wheel is of a good size and feels natural to hold, being adjustable for reach and rake. Physical buttons and thumbwheels allow adjustments to the standard cruise control, and audio, telephony and instrument cluster functions on the left and right spokes respectively. They’re logically laid out and easy to get to grips with.

The instrument screen forms part of BMW’s Curved Display. Measuring in at 12.3-inches, it can be customised to display myriad information from navigation to energy consumption.

At first glance, it may appear busy, but after a few minutes, one finds that it is bright, intuitive and easy to read.

Follow the swoop of BMW’s Curved Display to the left and one finds the 14.9-inch infotainment screen featuring iDrive 8. Again, at first glance, it may appear busy and somewhat daunting, but spend a few minutes playing with it and I promise you’ll find it intuitive to use. The main screen can be customised with widgets to display various information from the weather to the chosen audio source. Further customization such as the mood lighting’s colour and brightness is also done from iDrive 8.

And yes, it has touchscreen climate control. I found that by setting the system to Auto, and simply adjusting the temperature through the lower bar on the touchscreen, things worked really well. Voice commands can also be issued to adjust the climate control.

The BMW i4 GC comes with Harman Kardon Surround Sound System, and this too can be tinkered with and EQ’d via the respective screen in iDrive 8. It sounds very decent and was able to handle a variety of audio, from Ludovico Einaudi’s Divenire to Prodigy’s Smack My B***h Up to a nearly four-hour-long podcast.

Driving

Visibility out of the BMW i4 GC is good, and it was easy to place this EV in one’s desired direction. Steering is a bit on the sharp side, so take it easy the first time out. The turning circle was also a little wider than expected, meaning the i4 GC had to be placed further outside to U-turn onto the up and down ramps in my estate’s multistorey carpark, which was a little surprising.

Reversing into parking spots is also easy with BMW’s Parking Assistant displaying the reverse camera and distance markers on the infotainment screen with audible beeps.

On the move, things are calm and serene.. until one puts their foot down. 286hp and 400Nm of torque may not sound like much, but with pretty much instant availability, point and squirt manoeuvres become a cinch for overtaking and merging onto highways.

Speaking of the latter, the BMW i4 GC was given a proper squirt to merge onto a highway in damp conditions, and the rear end went slightly squirrely for a split second while traversing lane markings. Traction control, however, quickly and seamlessly got things back in shape.

In other words, it drives like a BMW should. It’s pretty keen to take corners and will work with you to rotate the rear end to get the nose pointed in the intended direction of travel.

Not only is the i4 GC quick, but relatively frugal as well. Over a test-driven 521.8km, the calculated average energy consumption was 14.3kWh/100km or 7.0km/kWh, which handily beat BMW’s claimed 19.3kWh/100km or 5.18km/kWh figure.

Naturally, your mileage may vary based on use-case and driving conditions, but it appears that one simply needs to drive smoothly and sensibly, not slowly, and good economy is possible to achieve.

Charging the i4 GC’s 67kW battery pack is also a straightforward affair, be it with AC or DC.

A maximum of 180kW DC charging is supported, and BMW says that the 10-80% DC charge time is 32 minutes. My own experience with a 100kW DC charger suggests that this is pretty accurate.

All in all, the BMW i4 GC is a unique EV that makes a statement that, currently, no other car manufacturer does. It’s sleek, sharp-looking, enjoyable to drive and pretty easy to live with.

It can be frugal during the daily doldrums of road travel and put a smile on one’s face when the loud pedal is prodded to the metal. Folks, it’s seriously worth a good look.

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

Technical Specifications

BMW i4 Gran Coupé eDrive35
Power: 286hp
Torque: 400Nm
Drive: Rear wheels
Battery: 67kW
Estimated Range (WLTP): up to 483km (claimed)
0-100km/h: 6.0 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 190km/h (claimed)
Energy Economy: 19.3kWh/100km or 5.18km/kWh (claimed)
Price: S$342,888 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: BMW Singapore

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BMW Group Asia embarked on its electrification journey in 2014, introducing the BMW i3 and i8 models. Fast forward nine years and five generations of BMW eDrive technology, and the company is expanding its lineup of fully electric vehicles (EVs) with the new BMW i4 eDrive35.

According to Mr. Lars Nielsen, Managing Director of BMW Group Asia, the BMW i4 brings electrification to the heart of the BMW brand, offering practicality, performance, and poise in a sustainable package. As Singapore’s charging infrastructure develops and more EV options become available, electromobility is gaining traction in the country.

The new BMW i4 eDrive35 joins the existing BMW i4 family, which includes the highly successful BMW i4 M50 and BMW i4 eDrive40. Packed with the latest technology, including an efficient electric powertrain and the BMW Curved Display with Operating System 8, the BMW i4 eDrive35 is sure to impress as it hits the roads here.

Produced at the BMW Group Munich plant, the new BMW i4 eDrive35 contributes to the company’s commitment to electric mobility. By 2023, 50% of the total production volume at the plant will be dedicated to fully electric cars. The BMW Group’s portfolio of fully electric cars now spans six model lines with 10 powertrain derivatives. The company aims for fully electric vehicles to account for 50% of its global sales by 2030.

But this is just the beginning. BMW has more in store with the upcoming BMW i5 sedan, promising enhanced dynamics, comfort, and a fresh interpretation of the brand’s signature design. Equipped with BMW Operating System 8.5, the BMW i5 will offer a suite of innovative digital services.

In terms of sales, BMW Group Asia has been a leader in the premium segment, selling 204 fully electric vehicles in the first four months of 2023, accounting for over 20% of total BMW and MINI EV sales in Singapore. These figures demonstrate the preference of EV buyers for BMW and MINI vehicles in the country.

As for charging infrastructure, Singapore currently has over 3,600 EV charging points, with plans to increase this number to 12,000 by 2025 and 60,000 by 2030. BMW Group Asia has been collaborating with Greenlots, a member of the Shell Group, since 2014 to provide home and public charging options.

Under the Shell Recharge banner, BMW i and MINI Electric customers can enjoy a comprehensive home or public charging package. The package includes a wall-mounted AC charger for home charging and a subscription package of 10,000 kWh over three years at Shell Recharge stations for public charging.

BMW’s regional footprint extends to 80% of the ASEAN region, offering electrified vehicles in markets such as Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

To experience the new BMW i4 eDrive35, interested customers can visit any authorised BMW dealer in Singapore.

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