Let’s, for a change, start this one with some quick math. On November 26, 2021, BMW Group India confirmed that it would introduce three EVs in six months. So, the story started with the BMW iX in December 2021 and continued with the Mini Cooper SE in February this year. And now, on May 26, 2022, we have the BMW i4. It’s the third pure-electric vehicle from the German automotive group. At the moment, there’s just one variant on offer – the eDrive40 – and that costs INR 69.90 lakh.

The BMW i4 xDrive40 gets its propulsion from a rear-mounted electric motor. That produces 335bhp/430Nm, which goes to the back wheels via a single-speed automatic gearbox. As a result, the sprint from nothing to 100kmph takes 5.7 seconds, while the top speed is electronically limited to 190kmph. Considering that the EV weighs over 2 tonnes (unladen), those performance figures are impressive.

But that’s only half the story. The rest of the numbers come from the battery. Hidden within the spine of the Gran Coupe is an 83.9kWh lithium-ion stack, out of which 80.7kWh is usable. If used efficiently, the four-door car can travel up to 590km on one complete charge. And that figure is WLTP certified. If BMW were to homologate the i4 eDrive40 in India, the ARAI figure would be significantly higher.

Moving to the charging capabilities. It can be plugged into a 7.4kW single-phase AC feed and an 11kW three-phase AC electricity source. For rapid charging, the i4 can be charged using a DC charger with a rating of up to 205kW. So, what are the waiting times like? Use the 11kW option, and the car will take 8.25 hours to charge from zero to 100 per cent. However, use a 200kW DC feed, and the i4 can replenish its battery from zero to 80 per cent in 31 minutes.

With all the math out of the way, let’s focus on what you get in terms of features. The list includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, cruise control, ambient lighting and 18-inch alloy wheels. You also get an automatic tailgate, LED-powered headlamps and taillamps, rain-sensing wipers, powered and heated front seats and an auto-dimming IRVM.

Competition? There isn’t any. In a similar package, the closest possible options are the Audi e-tron GT and the Porsche Tayacan.