Story by Kara Schweiss // Photography Contributed
Onyx Automotive is Nebraska’s premier luxury vehicle destination
BMW’s first-ever i4 electric sedan will be reaching showrooms in early 2022, and it can’t get here soon enough, said ONYX Automotive General Sales Manager Jake Koch.
“We have received a ton of inquiries on the availability of the vehicles since BMW started taking preorders. We have multiple orders placed already, and it seems like the interest is only beginning,” he said. “I myself cannot wait to get behind the wheel of BMW’s ‘Tesla killer.’”
Based on BMW’s 3-series, the i4 is expected to compete against other mid-size EV sedans, especially Tesla’s Model 3, Koch explained, and that means both high performance and gorgeous styling.
“I love the i4’s dramatic roofline. It’s a very sleek but aggressively styled vehicle,” he said. “The M50 version will provide all-wheel drive and produce 536 horsepower and 586 pound-feet of torque. The charging time is very impressive. It utilizes an 81.5-kWh battery that will have a 200-kilowatt charging capacity and can add an extra 90 miles of range in only 10 minutes.”
The eDrive40 version has a rear-mounted electric motor that generates 335 horsepower, and the M50 adds a front motor that boosts it to the aforementioned 536 total horsepower. The eDrive40’s estimated driving range is 300 miles, while the all-wheel-drive M50 yields around 240 miles. Every BMW i4 comes equipped with the new Flexible Fast Charger, a portable device compatible with any 120V or 240V outlet. BMW Charging, a new, comprehensive charging program for BMW electrified vehicles, offers tailored solutions for both home and public charging, including the BMW Wallbox for faster charging at home.
And that’s not all, Koch added. “There are so many things to be excited about when it comes to this vehicle. I love that it will utilize iDrive 8. The vehicle will operate through a 14.9-inch touchscreen that’s integrated with a 12.3-inch, all-digital instrument panel. It will have a very large, curved display on the dash,” he said. “The vehicle will also have Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 5G mobile capability.”
BMWs are known for superior handling. The automaker said that the i4 four-door coupe is built with its distinctive near-perfect weight distribution and low center of gravity, and that an adaptive M-chassis, variable sport steering, and a fine-tuned suspension ensure precision handling for this high-performance electric vehicle.
The i4 models feature elongated, coupe-like exteriors on a long wheelbase, creating an elegant profile for this four-door electric luxury car, and the cabin will offer spacious seating for five and its usual rich interior options. It will also have a variety of standard and optional driver-assistance technology such as forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology.
BMW currently offers a competitive warranty that includes one of the better complimentary maintenance periods, and its battery components are expected to also be covered, likely for eight years or 100,000 miles.
“We are very excited for the next phase of BMW’s EV lineup,” Koch said. “When German engineering meets impeccable styling, the result is a finely crafted vehicle that will lead the market in performance luxury.”
Visit onyxautomotive.com.
