BMW i4 M50 – mean and green

THE first all-electric M car from BMW, the i4 M50, is a vehicle you don’t forget in a hurry.

Low slung in time-honoured gran coupe tradition, beautifully balanced and dripping in high tech kit, it possesses a volcanic degree of power – delivered in a measured yet relaxed manner.

Owners, whether they be committed enthusiasts or those who just want their car to be perfectly engineered, comfortable and rewarding to drive, are drawn to BMW models because they deliver on these demands.

Add the M for motorsport letter to the equation, as in the case of our tested i4 M50, and you have a lean, mean and also very green machine.

Based on the 4 Series compact executive line-up, the i4 offers fans of the Bavarian brand a choice of two battery sizes in the shape of the 70.2kWh unit powering the entry grade i4 eDrive35 model and the 80.7kWh pack in the eDrive40.

Unsurprisingly it’s the latter you will find in the floor of the M50 and together with its pair of eDrive motors develops a whopping 544bhp in Sport Boost mode.

And while the other versions in the i4 stable can lay claim to a driving range varying from 299 to 365 miles, the M50 still has an official mark of 318, though applying some heavy manners does come at a cost.

So 275 miles may be nearer the mark, which is not to be sniffed at for a four-wheel drive vehicle of rare ability – to that end we’re talking big numbers like 0-62 in 3.9 seconds and a 139mph top end.

As for charging, a 10 to 80 per cent stint at an ultra rapid station should take no more than 30 minutes and you can also harness 71 miles of range in just 10 minutes. At 13 hours, a home wallbox is an overnight job.

Our driving experience, at a media test day organised by the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders), proved both enjoyable and informative.

It may be fairly compact but the i4 is nonetheless quite a heavy car weighing in at more than two tonnes, and its performance over a variety of fast A roads, rural lanes and two motorways was exceptional.

The M50’s balance, variable sport steering and ride quality – aided by the adaptive suspension standard on this model – was second to none. It’s a really terrific all-round performer, albeit one with a stunning amount of power.

Inside, the cabin materials are a blend of soft-touch plastics, brushed aluminium and leather with anthracite headlining and in addition to a wealth of standard kit you also get something called BMW IconicSounds Electric.

This is the result of a collaboration between BMW and celebrated film score producer Hans Zimmer and which according to the composer creates “sounds that give drivers a comforting, cosy feeling even on a rainy morning”.

On the other hand it could be likened to one of the hotel cleaners switching on the Henry or Hetty vacuum.

Otherwise you get a pair of digital screens in a curved display and BMW’s iDrive operating system.

Space up front is more than adequate and acceptable in the back, though you wouldn’t want to be an adult in the centre rear position, in which legroom is compromised.

Plenty of extra-cost options are available like the Technology Plus Pack (£1,662) and Comfort Pack (£1,050) included on the tested M50 while you will also pay extra for 20-inch double-spoke jet black alloys with performance tyres (£1,237) and the eye-catching Tanzanite Blue paint at £916, though M Sport brakes with red calipers come free of charge.

The BMW i4 electric line-up starts at £49,995 rising to £71,085, though our tested model with all the added whistles and bells came to a princely £78,330.