2026 BMW i4 M50 Specs, Review, Features – It’s difficult to argue with more power and excitement, but an i4 M50 with two motors doesn’t have to be more expensive to be entertaining.
The all-electric BMW i4 is basically a four-door liftback sedan without a tailpipe, similar to 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 design, whereas the i4 is ignored. With its more powerful dual-motor electric drivetrain and M Sport handling, the 2026 BMW i4 M50 expands on this recipe. Despite not being an electric M car, the M50’s improved whisper-silent performance makes it maybe the finest Q car in BMW’s fleet.
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. That may seem straightforward, but it’s actually rather amazing since BMW was able to cram an 83.9-kWh battery inside the coupe-like, low-slung design.
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 as a result of the lack of space beneath the load level.
Additionally, there was a 0.4 and 0.7 inch decrease in headroom (36.6 inches) and legroom (34.2 inches) in the second seat, respectively. Since the i4 M50 still has its 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat and the amount of space above the floor is roughly the same, most owners probably wouldn’t notice when the hydraulic liftback was installed. 2026 BMW i4 M50 Specs
2026 BMW i4 M50 Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior & Interior
Although the i4 integrates iDrive 8.0 into the more traditional cockpit of the 4 Series, it essentially employs the same iDrive 8.0 hardware and software as the iX. Compared to its more cleanly built, streamlined sibling, the i4 M50 is considerably simpler to live with thanks to this seemingly little tweak.
First of all, the center console and dashboard of the i4 have a lot more tactile knobs and buttons. 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.
Large, brilliant displays are still available for usage. 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. Similar to the iX, I find the main menu’s grid of more than 30 tiny icons to be unpleasant because it makes it hard to precisely browse, scroll, and poke 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 actual BMW iDrive control wheel on the center console, “Hey BMW” hot-word voice input, and search and air motions. Even though there is a high learning curve in the first week, iDrive 8.0 becomes quite easy to use if you take the time to configure it to your preference.
The telematics data connection and the always-on BMW Connected services are two of iDrive 8.0’s greatest features. These advanced remote controls, along with certain in-car features including intelligent voice assistant commands, 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.
Instead, users may utilize conventional 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 support both wired and wireless connections.
One USB Type-A data connector for media playback or phone hookups, three USB Type-C charging ports (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 within. 2026 BMW i4 M50 Specs
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 the Sport Boost mode is on, the four-door coupe can utilize the 586 pound-feet of immediate torque to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 3.7 seconds.
To really appreciate the i4 M50’s impressive 3.7 seconds from 0 to 60, you have to 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 the tire moaning, there is no drama, wheelspin, or even much sound as the i4 M50 speeds like a bullet train.
The M50 comes with M-specific versions of BMW’s iconic noises, which are generated sounds that are 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 speeds.
I was able to alter the i4 M50’s performance by alternating between driving and regeneration modes in addition to altering the music. To select between the EV’s Eco Pro, Sport Boost, Comfort, and Individual driving modes, press the appropriate 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, even if I found it to be jerky, unpredictable, and at worst unpredictable. I prefer to use the low, medium, or high static regen modes. To activate one-pedal driving, which is my favorite EV braking technique overall, you must disable low-speed creep in a menu. Consequently, the i4 could stop without using the brake pedal.
When braking hard and moving fast, the i4 M50’s standard M Sport physical brakes complement the regeneration system. The standard Adaptive M Suspension, which features variable sport steering and electrically adjustable dampers, handles the remaining handling duties. The driving qualities of the M50 have been refined by skilled BMW drivers.
It is noticeable on slopes and winding mountain roads that the EV weighs about 850 pounds more than the M440i xDrive. Compared to the slightly nose-heavy M440i, the new 48:52 front-to-rear weight distribution is actually inverted, making the steering feel lighter and more playful while still being pleasant to the touch. Despite this, the chassis still appears to be balanced. (At least it functions in Sport mode; I find the Comfort steering option to be a little too light and numb.) 2026 BMW i4 M50 Specs
2026 BMW i4 M50 Fuel Economy
If you pay close attention when filling up, you can even see where the gas cap goes. The i4 and the combustion-powered 4 Series even have the identical fuel door. The i4 has a combination charging system outlet in place of a filler neck. The 80.7-kWh of usable capacity (the remaining amount is reserved) is restored in around 8.25 hours when connected to an 11-kilowatt AC charger (Level 2).
The battery can be charged from 10 to 80% full, ideally in around 31 minutes, using a 200-kW DC fast charger. 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 added feature on specifically designed electric cars. Therefore, it is necessary to keep the portable charging line in the trunk. The Gran Coupe’s hood may be opened by the owner, unlike BMW’s iX SUV. Other than two coolant and wiper fluid refill caps and a large plastic cover that conceals the electronic components, not much can be seen underneath.
The 20-inch wheels of the i4 M50 performance variant are equipped with staggered high-performance Pirelli P Zero tires, which have 255/35 R20 in the front and 285/30 R20 in the 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. It’s still a fair range for commuting and some B-road fun, but the less powerful, 282- to 301-mile i4 eDrive40 variant is a good choice for frequent road travelers who prefer to go farther.
I recharged once before running out of power, spent the most of my time in Sport mode, and never charged the i4 M50 above 80% during my week of testing on the 20-inch wheels. The trip computer recorded an average of 2.6 miles per kWh consumed after around 175 miles of driving, which was somewhat better than the EPA’s anticipated 2.4 miles per kWh.
2026 BMW i4 M50 Safety Features
The core driver assistance technologies from the gasoline-powered 4 Series have been kept by BMW. 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 further standard equipment. Low-speed pedestrian safety exterior sound generating is another function that the electric i4 adds to the 4 Series’ feature list.
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 box is checked for the $1,700 Driving help Professional Package, which comes with Traffic Jam Steering Assistant, many evasive and cross-traffic steering support technologies, and an improvement to lane-keeping steering help.
Hands-free steering is made possible by this function in low-speed (below 40 mph) traffic. The admittance fee is unnecessary, in my opinion, but the limited speed restriction makes it a good party trick because it results in nearly continual handing of control in all but the most congested traffic jams.
2026 BMW i4 M50 Release Date & Price
The base price of the 2026 BMW i4 M50 is $68,295 (including the $995 destination fee). It’s difficult to argue with more power and speed, but the i4 M50 is awesome, so go ahead and use it. That is $11,400 more costly than the i4 eDrive40, which many CNET Cars employees believe is the lineup’s sweet spot due to its exceptional pricing, outstanding performance, and longer range.
In a class that also includes the Polestar 2 with Performance Pack ($58,800) and the Tesla Model 3 Performance ($64,190), the BMW remains one of the most expensive cars. However, the somewhat bigger i4’s better level of luxury, fit, and finish helps to partially justify its higher price. My sample, which contained extras and was nearly complete, came to $84,370.
The BMW i4, which isn’t a specialized EV like the iX, would have to make a number of compromises in order to fit a massive battery onto an ICE basis. The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s smooth and quick switch to all-electric power surprised me 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.
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