BMW i4 eDrive35 debuts with smaller battery, lower price

The eDrive40 is no longer the entry level BMW i40 model, this title now goes to the i4 eDrive35 which becomes the third model in the electrified i4 family. There are no visual changes to the new car, all differences are found under the hood.

The i4 eDrive35 gets a smaller battery, it is still Li-Ion pack, but the capacity is 66kWh which is quite a bit less when you compare it to 80.7kWh available on the more expensive models. The full capacity of the battery pack is actually 70.2kWh (vs 83.9kWh on the eDrive40) with the 66kWh being the usable part.

The electric motor powering the new entry model comes with 281 horsepower output and 291 lb-ft of torque which is still plenty for everyday driving. The 0 to 60 mph acceleration takes only 5.8 seconds, yes it is slower than the i4 eDrive40 but we doubt you'll feel the 0.1s difference in real life situations.

Where you will see the difference is the range - BMW claims the car can achieve 260 miles, but it is only an estimate at this point. Even if it was accurate and it was the EPA range, it would be significantly lower than the 300 miles achieved by the i4 eDrive40.

The smaller battery pack can take advantage of 180 kW DC fast charging and BMW claims it can be charged from 10% to 80% in about 32 minutes.

There is no changes on the inside of the i4 - the car comes with the same BMW Curved Display that offers 12.3” of information to the driver and 14.9” of main infotainment screen. All options are exactly the same as on more expensive models, meaning the driver can have a full ConnectedDrive suite at her or his disposal.

The production of the i4 eDrive35 will kick off by the end of this year with first deliveries to begin early in 2023. For now the car will be available in the US for $51,400 with a destination charge of $995 and before any government issued incentives. This means the new BMW effectively will start at around $45,000 after federal tax credit, when it arrives next year. There is no word yet on its availability in the other markets.

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