As the company moves more toward electrification, BMW is advancing its dedicated electric vehicle offerings. The 2022 BMW i4 sedan and the iX crossover represent the future of the German company, not only in technology but in design language. We recently had a chance to check out the two new cars and show off what the future looks like the for blue and white Roundel.
The i lineup of electric vehicles started with the i3 subcompact hatchback and the i8 hybrid sports car. While the i8 got the most attention from its looks, the i3 was the more dedicated future offering.
It had a chassis made from carbon fiber, it used environmentally-friendly materials, and it was a dedicated electric vehicle from the start.
To help satisfy people who would have range anxiety from the i3 — the original range was as little as 81 miles — BMW offered a gasoline motor to function as a range extender to keep the battery topped off.
In a lot of ways the i3 was ahead of its time, but it was also incredibly expensive to build and needed to be priced aggressively to sell.
The 2022 BMW i4 sedan is different. Expected to have a range of up to 300 miles, the i4 can travel significantly farther between charges. It also can travel far enough to not need a range extender burning fuel to get there.
The i4 can also charge quickly — up to 200 kW if the station supports it — meaning you’ll spend less time stopped if you’re on a road trip.
The new i4 and iX also features BMW’s new iDrive 8 infotainment system, which has all the connectivity you’d expect and a new BMW digital assistant. Helpful in both models, the navigation system uses weather information, traffic, altitude, and other connected services to help deliver what the company claims is the most accurate range estimate on the market.
If you’re looking at a crossover instead of a sedan, which most of you are, the iX is the answer. The xDrive50 version is expected to have 300 miles of range while delivering over 500 hp of performance.
More aggressively styled inside and out, some have called the iX’s design a bit polarizing. No matter where you fall on the scale, nobody will be mistaking the new flagship BMW electric models for anything other than BMWs.
The iX has some clever features, too. All of the driver assistance sensors are built into the front grille, and there’s a heating element behind them to keep the clear of ice during the winter. The rear BMW logo has a built-in washing mechanism to keep the rear camera clean.
The front Roundel doubles as the filler tube for the windshield washer fluid, since there’s no front trunk and BMW wanted owners to be able to conveniently reach it.
Be sure to check out our video tour posted above to get up close and personal with the new i4 and iX both inside and out. Both cars are expected to go on sale in Q1 of 2022. The i4 will start at $56,395 for the i4 eDrive40 and the iX will start at $84,195. Both prices include $995 for delivery.
