Today, we will meet the BMW i4, a pure electric vehicle. I have had the chance to drive the regular 4 Series a few times, but this is my first experience with the M50. In terms of performance, it occupies a middle ground between the BMW M3 and the 340i. However, when driving in everyday situations, it offers a quicker response typical of electric vehicles, which can enhance overall satisfaction. So, let's take a moment to feel what charms the BMW i4 M50 has to offer.

The BMW i4 is a pure electric vehicle. It strongly resembles the 4 Series Gran Coupe, with a vertically oriented kidney grille that gives it a similar look. Due to its electric nature, the grille is closed off, but you can still see the attention to detail. The logo indicates that it is a high-performance model, and the headlights are reminiscent of the M3 and M4.

It has a similar design, and you can see blue decorations inside the lamp, which include laser lights. Recently, there are models without laser lights that also use this blue decoration because consumers like it. The shape of the bumper resembles it a lot, but the uniqueness of the A4 is well preserved, which is nice. The character line that runs across the hood is also aggressive. The balance seen from the side is good; the front and rear overhangs are short, making it look a bit more dynamic. There is also the shape of the air breather. The side mirrors are two-tone, which matches well with the sporty feel of the A4. The door handles are of the pull type, but since we are used to grip types these days, it can feel a bit awkward at times. The tires are winter tires, but summer tires are provided as well. Still, the winter tires have decent cornering performance.

The frame decoration that wraps around the windows is also black, giving it a sportier appearance. Let's take a look at the charging ports. Inside, there are two covers that create a cleaner charging environment for AC or DC charging. The rear also looks sporty. If you're not a BMW enthusiast, you might confuse it with the M3. There's a small spoiler at the end of the trunk, and the tail lamps extend outward and rise, providing a familiar feel. The bumper may appear a bit plain, but the high-gloss panel enhances the luxurious impression. There's also a diffuser at the bottom. The decorative trim that surrounds the area where the muffler would be is unique with its silver tone. The interior is similar to the 3 Series; the instrument panel uses the same tiles found in many BMWs. However, some elements have been adjusted to fit the characteristics of an electric vehicle, and the right side features a 14.9-inch display.

Through the display, various functions can be utilized. You can use Android Auto or CarPlay. Recently, BMW announced that new cars will use navigation in collaboration with T-map. However, the built-in navigation you see now also performs quite well. The color and interface are a bit lacking, though. There is a voice recognition feature, but it falls short compared to competitors like Mercedes-Benz. Of course, it is better than Audi. The steering wheel is an M-style one and feels comfortable in hand. However, it would be better if the steering wheel could be adjusted a bit lower. The button operation feels decent, and it also has a heated function. The heating adjusts automatically based on the indoor temperature. The air conditioning system is similar to that of the 3 Series; there are a few physical buttons, but most functions are controlled through the display.

The lever is designed like those in the M models, but it operates in an up-and-down motion. It's nice that the blue color adds a distinctive touch; however, the surrounding trim decoration is somewhat ordinary. It would have been better to differentiate it with more luxurious materials, such as carbon fiber. The key is the M0 key that has been used for a long time, and the design, which is over ten years old, is still in use. The front seats are comfortable, and there is no shortage of space. The seats provide a suitably firm feeling, which offers a sense of stability, but they don't actively hold the body during cornering. The range of seat adjustments is average, but as mentioned earlier, it would be nice if the steering wheel could be lowered a bit more. The design of the rear seats is familiar, and the space is adequate. Of course, recent new cars have all been equipped with ample space, making it feel relatively smaller.

It may look small, but there is enough space for adults to ride comfortably. The seat backs can be folded, and there is a rear air conditioning system, with heated seats as an additional feature. You can also see two Type C USB ports. The sound system is from Harman Kardon, and the sound quality is decent. It feels like the bass is a bit lacking, but still, it shows an average level for sound systems found in vehicles under 100 million won. High-end sound systems in BMWs all include demo tracks. Now, let's take a moment to listen to some music. Now, let's take a look at the trunk. The trunk opens electronically. Recently, BMW models have good ADAS performance. They provide smooth braking even in situations where other cars are merging, so there is no sudden acceleration or deceleration, which is nice. The car maintains its position in the center of the lane.

The features are working well, and the heaviness of the steering wheel while using the EDS is at a reasonable level. It is equipped with a capacitive sensor. Now, what are the advantages of electric cars? Internal combustion engine models tend to have a slight vibration when the car is stopped. Well, that’s to be expected since there is an engine. Of course, in luxury cars, a lot of effort goes into reducing engine vibrations, so they are significantly diminished. However, in general, cars priced below 100 million won will still allow you to feel some level of vibration. On the other hand, electric cars have no reason to produce such vibrations. Therefore, when driving smoothly like this, and in environments where acceleration and deceleration occur, there is no shifting shock, making the driving experience very comfortable. You could say the ride quality is excellent. Thus, satisfaction is particularly high in low-speed environments, especially for these electric cars in such conditions.

The efficiency is quite good; in fact, it drops significantly when going at high speeds. Simply put, this means that the battery drains quickly. However, it shows no discomfort at all when we use it in a stationary state or at the domestic speed limit of 110 km/h. Additionally, the noise level is very good. Today, I tested a model equipped with winter tires, which resulted in slightly unfavorable noise readings, yet it still showed a level of 58 decibels, which is quite quiet. If it were fitted with regular tires, it could potentially show even lower noise levels. Due to the characteristics of electric vehicles, tire design pays close attention to rolling resistance, and there are also many efforts made to reduce noise. Therefore, you can expect a level of quietness that is even better than today's measurements.

Let me tell you more. This time, let's take a look at the acceleration performance of the BMW i4 M50. The launch control is activated, so let's go. Right now, when using the launch control, there was a little tire slip. As I mentioned, we have winter tires on today. The speed increases really quickly; the official top speed is reported to be 225 km/h, and we have already reached that point. However, since we are using winter tires today, the performance may degrade a bit faster when the tires are under stress. For safety reasons, I reduced the speed, but as you saw earlier, it demonstrates impressive acceleration performance. From a complete stop to 100 km/h, the official record is 3.9 seconds. Our test results showed a slightly faster performance, clocking in at around 3.8 seconds. In the past, there have been some performance variances with BMW.

It was convenient, but now it accurately shows the performance of the presentation. Today, instead of winter tires, normal tires have been installed, so there is a possibility that they have been pulled a bit more. Therefore, we anticipate that if the tires are in good condition, a time of around 3.8 seconds might be possible. As mentioned earlier, in terms of performance, this content period is between the M3 and the M340i, but when you stomp on the accelerator, it jumps forward almost without delay. While the M3 may be a bit faster, when you press the accelerator, it downshifts, and only then does it start pushing based on torque. Right now, it runs immediately and the sound seems to enhance the perceived speed of the car. In fact, if we only consider the output of the motor, it could be even more than this.

Most electric vehicles are often limited in their maximum speed, even though they can achieve high top speeds. The stability at high speeds is quite good. When traveling at around 180 to 200 km/h, the winter tires currently installed have a softer tread pattern, which can cause slight vibrations due to the pattern itself. However, the basic safety remains quite good. When you press the accelerator, some cars may show a slight variance between the front and rear motors, which can give the sensation of the car subtly shaking. But right now, the settings are very well done. The ride comfort at high speeds is also surprisingly good. Now, let's take a look at the handling performance of the BMW i4 M50. There are some limitations due to the tires, and even now, a slight turn of the steering wheel...

You can see that the body of the car moves slightly delayed, which is characteristic of winter tires. The current temperature is around 7 to 8 degrees Celsius. The handling of the vehicle itself is very good. When I turn the steering wheel, it responds well and turns in as desired. The braking feel is also good; it feels almost similar to hydraulic systems, showing excellent performance without any loss. Of course, it has regenerative braking functionality. The basic steering characteristics maintain understeer when turning the steering wheel, but it feels almost neutral. Right now, even while pressing the accelerator pedal fully, the rear is not slipping at all; it moves linearly.

It maintains a slight understeer line. Now, let's take a look at the braking performance. Since winter tires are mounted, the braking distance has increased quite a bit. However, the braking variation is relatively small for winter tires. On a normal road surface, with temperatures above 8 degrees Celsius, if summer tires were used, the braking distance could potentially decrease by about 4 meters at the least, and up to 7 meters at the most. This emphasizes the importance of selecting tires based on environmental conditions. 

Now, there is some lateral slip, which is typical. It is indeed sharp. Shall we try a lift-off again? In this case, there was a bit of a lack of support on the rear side. This is also a limit of the tires, as the load was concentrated on one side, causing the rear to collapse. Nevertheless, even so,

The driver had enough time to react. Also, I’m not sure if the speed I attempted will show up on the screen, but it was over 80 km/h. Typically, when we test sports cars like the Porsche 911 or the Cayman, we usually test them at around 75 to 80 km/h for regular models. However, today, even with winter tires, we were able to reach a much higher speed. If it demonstrated this level of performance, you can assume that it would maintain stability in any environment. There’s really nothing to criticize, especially regarding the handling. The body roll is stable, and when entering a corner, you can feel a slight weight transfer to the tires. Let’s take a moment to check the weight; it’s showing about 2.2 tons.

However, the fact that it has a certain feel still differentiates it from the internal combustion engine models. Due to its weight, it has a higher output, but you can consider that its efficiency is slightly lower compared to internal combustion engine models. In terms of output, the current M3 model is indeed higher, especially in torque, where the difference is quite significant. Nevertheless, it is important for you to keep in mind that there are limitations due to the weight of electric vehicles. When comparing electric vehicles to internal combustion engine vehicles, there is still no brand that makes electric cars better. Even Porsche is in that situation. Porsche is relatively well-balanced, but I would say that the i4 still demonstrates excellent capabilities. Now, let's take a look at the BMW i4 M50. We are in sport mode, and the vertical movements are smooth.

It is an extended environment. Although it is a bit challenging to encounter on regular roads, you can see that it drives very smoothly and stably. This time, we are entering a series of bumps. Generally, the ride quality is good, but in cases where the suspension is tuned a bit harder, especially in these vehicles, there can be a slight feeling of rigidity in the body. Nevertheless, it has managed to create a good ride quality. In cases where the suspension is tuned too hard, the impact can be unpleasant or even feel excessive for the vehicle itself, but I didn't feel any of that at all. Now, we are going to test the speed bump at 30 km/h, exceeding 30 km/h. Here, there is a clear characteristic: when the car drops a bit, it gives the impression that it is set up quite hard, but that feeling is different from simply being stiff.

There is a significant amount of shock, and surprisingly, the suspension is handling these sharp impacts very smoothly, creating a comfortable ride. It is clear that the suspension has a lot of know-how, and the setup is done well. Therefore, in the case of the rear seats, there might be a bit more shock, but even so, when compared to other sedans we encounter in everyday life, it shows a level of ride comfort that is hard to say is worse. I think this is an area where domestic cars could learn from. Now, let's check the basic stability through a sudden lane change. We're going at about 100 km/h, and I expected the rear axle to lose grip a bit. The grip of the tires is relatively much lower compared to summer tires, so...

I expected that the body movement of the car would be maintained according to the steering input from the driver. This time, when sliding, due to the tires, the steering response tends to understeer slightly when operated quickly. It pushes and slides, but this is actually due to the tires; the suspension itself is holding up very well. Even though the tires are slipping a lot right now, the basic stability is not compromised. For reference, the tires currently being used temporarily are the MoE Wintercraft WPC 12 model, which I also use. In terms of handling, Korean tire products are definitely a bit better. However, during cornering and sudden lane changes, the lateral grip is needed to maintain stability. In this aspect of lateral grip, we found about a 2 km/h difference in our test results.

In terms of performance, there is indeed a significant difference. For cars with less than 300 horsepower, if handling is somewhat lacking, using Korean winter tires can yield better performance. On the other hand, for cars that have higher performance, such as those weighing more and producing over 300 horsepower, using the Wintercraft WB 72 will provide more stability and satisfaction. However, if you push the tires beyond their grip limits, the tire pattern can get damaged. Since winter tires have very soft blocks, I would recommend considering this characteristic while driving. In emergency situations, of course, you may need to make unexpected sharp turns, and during this time, the ability to withstand such situations is crucial.

The steering is low, and basically, when you take the steering wheel slightly or quickly, you can see that the responsive Korean products are a bit better. Now, let's switch the driving mode to sport. At this time, the behavior of the vehicle in response to steering is relatively quick, but the feeling of the rear axle slightly slipping has become stronger. Earlier, I felt that understeer was a bit more pronounced, but now the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) program itself has delayed its intervention slightly to provide a more dynamic feel, allowing the rear to move a bit. Now, shall we try a rain change in sport mode? Starting... The comfort mode maintains itself without any sportiness. There is a slight differentiation between the modes.

There may be some variations in values, but there is no difference in how the vehicle behaves when the steering wheel is turned quickly. Today, I encountered the BMW i4 M50. I also have an M3, but considering everyday conditions, the current i4 M50 is somewhat more appealing. Of course, if you enjoy high-speed driving, you might feel a bit disappointed as the battery depletes quickly. However, it is very comfortable for everyday use, and the ride quality is quite good. For those who occasionally mix in sporty driving, the i4 M50 will be a very good choice. Of course, when compared to the 3 Series, the rear seat space is noticeably smaller. When I sat in it with my back straight, there was about 1 cm of space left, which is usually the case.

When you sit slightly bent at the waist like this, it can be comfortable. At this point, there is about 3 to 4 cm of space left. If your height is below 165 cm, there is absolutely no lack of space. Even someone around 170 cm can fit in, although it might feel a bit cramped. However, for those taller than that, their head will definitely touch the ceiling. The headrest at the back is also quite comfortable, so there’s no disappointment when using it as a family car. Generally, I often drive alone and occasionally take my family with me. However, when it comes to the main content, some might feel a slight burden regarding the maintenance costs or feel regretful about using premium fuel. For these individuals, the i4 M50 could be a really good choice. However, I do have some concerns about this car.

Looking at the price range, since I won't be able to receive any subsidy benefits anyway, it's a matter of whether to purchase the M2 or this one. The rear seat convenience is indeed better in the Apogee. However, in terms of performance, the M2 is lower, so if you make a choice that fits your environment, it allows for a more ideal consumption. That's how you can view it. But one disappointing aspect is that, similar to the 340, I wish they had paid a bit more attention to details like carbon or leather in the store. Considering these points, the price of electric vehicles has indeed risen significantly due to their characteristics. If you simply evaluate the pure value of this car, similar to other electric vehicles, I think around 20 million won would be a more appropriate price. It's still unavoidable since batteries are expensive, though.

Today, we met the BMW, which is a well-performing electric car with great balance and safety.

[리뷰] 2024 BMW i4 M50 / 오토뷰

[리뷰] 2024 BMW i4 M50 / 오토뷰