When I was a child, BMW's cars were easy to understand because of their model names. The 325i was a 3 Series with a 2.5 L engine, while the 540i was a 5 Series with a 4.0 L engine. BMW left that common-sense naming approach in the dust quite some time before it set a goal to have sold 2 millionplugins by 2025.
Under the i4 eDrive40 and i4 M50 is the new entry-level EV sedan, the i4 eDrive35.
The new i4 configuration has a starting price of over $50,000. The eDrive35 uses a single electric motor that is derated to 281hp and 295lb-ft. There's a good chance that the i4 eDrive35 is the best driver's car from the range.
I think the real savings come from the smaller battery pack. The pack has a usable capacity of 66 kWh, compared to 80 kWh in the more expensive versions. The i4 eDrive35 should have an EPA range of 260 miles, but BMW says a fast-charge at 180 kilowatts will restore the battery in 32 minutes.
The new entry-level i4 comes with the same equipment as the more expensive eDrive40 version. BMW expects US deliveries to start in the first quarter of 2020.
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