2026 BMW i4 M50 Price, Specs, Review – It’s difficult to argue against greater power and excitement, but an i4 M50 with two engines doesn’t have to be more expensive to be thrilling. The all-electric BMW i4 is simply a four-door liftback sedan without a tailpipe, just like the 4 Series Gran Coupe.
It is identical to its combustion-powered predecessors at the curb. The iX is a “weird electric SUV!” due to its unique appearance, whereas the i4 is ignored. The more powerful dual-motor electric drivetrain and M Sport handling of the 2026 BMW i4 M50 expand on this concept. The M50 may be the finest Q car in BMW’s portfolio because to its improved whisper-silent performance, while not being an electric M vehicle.
The distinctive front grille of the i4 also incorporates the self-healing technology seen in the iX SUV. After a few warm days or a few minutes in front of a hair dryer, little rock chips and scratches vanish from the smooth surface. When the measuring tape is removed, the i4 M50 is just 0.2 inches higher than the M440i and has a 0.1-inch bigger front track. Although it might seem straightforward, BMW’s ability to squeeze an 83.9-kWh battery within the low-slung, coupe-like body is quite amazing.
The i4 loses some passenger space since the battery is located beneath the floor. The trunk capacity was lowered from 16.6 cubic feet to 10 cubic feet due to the lack of space beneath the load level. Additionally, the legroom (34.2 inches) and height (36.6 inches) of the second seat dropped by 0.7 and 0.4 inches, respectively. Since the i4 M50 still has its 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat and has roughly the same amount of room above the floor, most owners probably wouldn’t notice the hydraulic liftback. 2026 BMW i4 M50 Price
2026 BMW i4 M50 Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior & Interior
Although the i4 integrates iDrive 8.0 into the more traditional 4 Series cockpit, it essentially employs the same iDrive 8.0 software and technology as the iX. Compared to its more streamlined, exquisitely crafted sibling, the i4 M50 is considerably simpler to live with thanks to this seemingly little difference. First of all, the center console and dashboard of the i4 have a lot more tactile buttons and knobs. There is less overall dependence on the touchscreen for basic operations, and the console itself is positioned closer to the dash and steering wheel for easier reach when it’s time to, say, switch to Sport mode.
Massive, bright displays are still usable. The i4 is driven by its user-customizable iDrive software and has the same curved 14.9-inch center touch panel and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The main menu’s grid of more than 30 tiny icons irritates me, just as the iX, because it makes it hard to browse, scroll, and poke accurately while driving. Fortunately, you can add your eight most often used things to a shortcut menu and rearrange the icons to speed up navigation.
You may access it at any time by swiping down from the top of the screen. The driver has even more freedom and flexibility than just reaching across to the screen thanks to other control methods including the authentic BMW iDrive control wheel on the center console, “Hey BMW” hot-word voice input, search and air motions, and more. Despite the initial week’s high learning curve, iDrive 8.0 becomes quite user-friendly if you take the time to configure it to your preference.
The telematics data connection and the always-available BMW Connected services are two of iDrive 8.0’s greatest features. These advanced remote controls, along with other in-car features like intelligent voice assistant instructions, require a BMW user account and an active data subscription. These features include using your phone as a key, remotely monitoring the EV as it charges, and sending destinations to the car before you leave.
Alternatively, consumers may use normal Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity on their phones to power their media and GPS. For a more smooth setup, both technologies utilize the most recent iterations of their respective quick pairing technologies and allow both wired and wireless connections. One USB Type-A data port for media playback or phone hookups, three USB Type-C charging outlets (two in the second row and one in the center console), and an optional wireless phone charger at the dashboard’s base are all included.
2026 BMW i4 M50 Specs
Engine & Performance
The dual-motor xDrive electric all-wheel drive system is an upgrade for the i4 M50. A 190-kW motor powers the front axle, while a 230-kW unit powers the back wheels. The total output of 536 horsepower is much greater than the 335 horsepower of the eDrive40. When using the Sport Boost mode, the four-door coupe’s 586 pound-feet of immediate torque allows it to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in only 3.7 seconds.
To truly appreciate the i4 M50’s impressive 3.7 seconds from 0 to 60, you must feel the smooth acceleration as you press the pedal. The 3.4-second sprint time of the M4 Competition xDrive Coupe is a totally new level of thrill. Other than the whoosh of the wind and tire whining, the i4 M50 accelerates like a bullet train with no drama, wheelspin, or even noise.
The M50 also has BMW’s well-known sounds, which are generated and delivered via the cabin speakers in rhythm with acceleration or deceleration. The M50 is silent by default. The M50’s Sport sound track was a nice, unexpectedly captivating representation of a future combustion engine, despite my dislike of artificial engine noises. The technique, which was created by BMW Creative Sound Director Renzo Vitale and film composer Hans Zimmer, uses overlapping Shepard tones to create a sense of urgency that progressively increases as the i4 accelerates up.
I was able to alter the i4 M50’s performance by alternating between driving and regeneration modes in addition to altering the music. To choose between the EV’s Eco Pro, Sport Boost, Comfort, and Individual driving modes, press the respective physical buttons. Additionally, there are many regeneration settings. The first is the default Adaptive mode, which determines how much regeneration to apply each time the throttle is raised based on navigation data, the distance to the car ahead, and the battery’s charge level.
This should provide you the best energy recovery, despite my opinion that it was jerky, unpredictable, and at worst unpredictable. One of the three static regen modes—low, medium, or high—is what I prefer to select. One-pedal driving, which is generally my preferred EV braking style, requires you to disable low-speed creep in a menu. Because of this, the i4 could stop without using the brake pedal.
When braking hard and moving fast, the i4 M50’s standard M Sport physical brakes work in tandem with the regeneration technology. The standard Adaptive M Suspension, which features variable sport steering and electrically adjustable dampers, takes care of the remaining handling duties. The M50’s driving qualities have been enhanced by skilled BMW drivers.
On steep and winding mountain roads, it is clear that the EV weighs around 850 pounds more than the M440i xDrive. The steering feels lighter and more lively while still being pleasant to the touch because to the new 48:52 front-to-rear weight distribution, which is actually inverted from the relatively nose-heavy M440i. Despite this, the chassis still appears to be balanced. (Although it functions in Sport mode, I find the Comfort steering option to be a little too light and numb.) 2026 BMW i4 M50 Price
2026 BMW i4 M50 Fuel Economy
If you look closely, you can even see where the gas cap goes when you’re filling up. Even the i4’s fuel door is identical to that of the combustion-powered 4 Series. The i4 has a combination charging system outlet in place of a filler neck.
The 80.7 kWh of usable capacity (the rest is reserved) is restored in around 8.25 hours when connected to an 11 kW AC charger (Level 2). The battery can be charged from 10% to 80% full with a 200-kW DC fast charger, ideally in around 31 minutes. That charging time coincides well with the two years of free 30-minute charging sessions that BMW offers new i4 customers through Electrify America. The BMW is enough until outlets with 200 kW or more are widely available, even if there are EVs with quicker charging speeds.
Unfortunately, the i4 lacks a front trunk, which is sometimes a great addition to specially designed electric cars. The portable charging line must thus stay in the trunk. The Gran Coupe’s owner may open the hood, unlike BMW’s iX SUV. Other than two coolant and wiper fluid refill caps and a large plastic cover that conceals the electrical components, not much can be seen underneath.
The i4’s M50 performance version comes standard with 20-inch wheels and staggered high-performance Pirelli P Zero tires that measure 255/35 R20 up front and 285/30 R20 down back. The M50 performance variant comes with standard 19-inch double-spoke M wheels. The sedan’s appearance, handling, and—above all—range are all impacted by this modification.
Owners may anticipate a range of up to 270 miles between charges on the regular 19s. That estimate drops to 227 miles when using the larger, more sticky 20-inch wheels and tires. For regular road travelers who like to go farther, the less powerful i4 eDrive40 model, which has a range of 282 to 301 miles, is a good choice. It’s still a respectable range for commuting and some B-road enjoyment.
I recharged the i4 M50 once before the battery died, generally utilized Sport mode, and never charged it past 80% throughout my week of testing on the 20-inch wheels. The trip computer showed an average of 2.6 miles per kWh spent after around 175 miles of driving, which was somewhat better than the EPA’s estimated 2.4 miles per kWh. 2026 BMW i4 M50 Price
2026 BMW i4 M50 Safety Features
BMW has kept the key driver assistance features from the gasoline-powered 4 Series. Lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, and forward collision warning with automated city speed braking are all standard equipment. Automatic bright lighting and a rearview camera are also standard equipment. Low-speed pedestrian safety exterior sound generating is another function that the electric i4 adds to the 4 Series’ feature set.
An upgrade for my example would be a $700 Parking Assistance Package, which includes hands-free parallel and perpendicular parking assistance, a surround view camera, and front and rear parking distance sensors. Additionally, the $1,700 Driving Help Professional Package box is ticked.
This package includes Traffic Jam Steering Assistant, many evasive and cross-traffic steering support technologies, and an improvement to lane-keeping steering assistance. Hands-free steering is made possible by this function in low-speed (below 40 mph) traffic. The limited speed restriction makes it a handy party trick because it causes nearly continual switching of control in all but the worst traffic jams, even though I don’t think the entry fee is necessary.
2026 BMW i4 M50 Release Date & Price
The basic price of the 2026 BMW i4 M50 is $68,295 when the $995 destination fee is taken into account. The i4 M50 is a lot of fun, so go ahead and indulge yourself.
Because of its incredible performance, greater range, and better value, many Cars employees believe the i4 eDrive40 is the greatest deal in the portfolio, even if it costs $11,400 more. In a class that also includes the Tesla Model 3 Performance ($64,190) and the Polestar 2 with Performance Pack ($58,800), the BMW remains one of the most expensive cars. However, the better fit, polish, and level of luxury of the slightly bigger i4 help to somewhat offset its higher price. With extras included, my nearly entire sample came to $84,370.
The BMW i4, which is not a specialized EV like the iX, would have to make several compromises in order to fit a large battery atop an ICE basis. I was surprised by how seamlessly and swiftly the 4 Series Gran Coupe switched to all-electric power while I was driving. One of the most enjoyable electric vehicles I’ve driven this year is the i4 M50, which has become my favorite iteration of the 4 Series chassis.
Note: The details included in this blog post are derived from pre-release material that was accessible when the article was written. If you want the latest information, you should check official sources or call your nearest dealership.
Read Also:
- 2026 BMW i4 M50 Specs, Review, Features
- 2026 BMW X7 Price, Performance, Redesign
- 2026 BMW 3 Series Price, Release Date, MSRP
- 2026 BMW X5 Redesign, Price, Features
- 2026 BMW 8 Series Changes, Specs, Redesign
Gallery :