BMW i4 Electric Sedan To Get A Performance Focused M Variant Next Year

i4 concept images used for representational purposes

• BMW M CEO Markus Flasch confirmed the news during the M3/M4 debut.

• It may only be a modest step up over the standard i4's 530PS electric motor.

• Expect styling tweaks like sportier bumpers, wheels and carbon fibre inserts.

• It will most likely debut towards the middle if not the latter half of 2021.

BMW has generated quite the buzz over the last 24 hours with the M3 and M4 featuring the opinion-dividing kidney grille. And now there's already talks of another M-badged model coming next year, only this one is based on the upcoming i4 electric sedan. This was confirmed by BMW M CEO Markus Flasch in reports from the M3/M4 debut. But there's a small catch to this revelation.

Markus Flasch said, "Next year, we will launch the first battery-electric M car in the performance segment based on the i4, as something to confirm. Then we're working on hybrid electrified performance and high-performance cars, but it is too early to disclose which ones it is going to be." This statement hints that the i4 M may not be a bonkers M model like is the norm, but more of a modest step up from the standard i4 EV.

The standard BMW i4, which made its debut in in March 2020, is powered by a 530PS electric motor with a claimed 0-100kmph time of 4 seconds and a 200kmph top speed. Expect the M model to push closer towards the 600PS mark. Also expect some sacrifices in efficiency in the pursuit of performance. For reference, the i4's motor draws from an 80kWh battery to provide a claimed WLTP range of 600km.

Also expect sportier design updates for the M-branded i4 compared to the standard i4. They could include more aggressive bumpers, carbon fibre inserts, funkier wheels and M-branded calipers. The cabin is likely to remain the same aside from M-specific upholstery among other subtle tweaks.

The standard production-spec i4 electric sedan is set to debut by 2021. So we could expect the spicier M variant to make its way to the i4 lineup later in the year. The BMW i4 looks to rival the once it goes into production.