One of the best aspects of a sporty electric car is its quick torque supply, and because of the way electric motors function, you can step on the accelerator and get an instant response.
If you do that in the new BMW i4 M50, you'll notice that you're flinging your head back against the headrest as you take off down the street. Yes, the BMW i4 M50 is neck-snappingly fast!
Given its front-end dominance, the kidney-shaped grille appears to be adequate. The rounded contours give the BMW i4 M50 an illusion of grace and sophistication, but the posture is just tempting enough to tease its potency.
However, it isn't until you get inside and start driving when you realize how powerful the 544 horsepower BMW i4 M50 truly is. The peak torque is 795 Nm, with a 0-62 mph time of 3.9 seconds and an electronically regulated top speed of 200km/h.
Inside the cockpit, when you nestle into the black Vernasca leather and get familiar with the controls, there's a sense of pure German engineering.
The BMW i4 M50 has a sturdy feel to it.
The i4 M50, being an M-badged Beemer, is not only ready to go, but it can also stop on a dime thanks to the hefty discs all around. There's a chassis capable of containing all the power of its front and rear-mounted motors, as well as handling that proved to be really outstanding on the highways.
Meanwhile, the i4 M50 can handle twisty country routes with muddy bends and pothole-addled kerbs excellently.
You'd think that all this power would deplete the battery, but that's not the case. Even after you drive continuously for two hours in Sport mode (there are also Eco Pro and Comfort modes), the battery gauge is still above half - around 60 to 70%.
Thanks to a Combined Charging Unit, BMW claims that a 18-minute charging stop may add 100km to the BMW i4 M50.
This implies it can be connected to high-power DC charging stations with capacities of up to 50kW, with the main problem being to find a compatible plug with the current infrastructure.
Apart from its performance, there are other more features, with the interior proving to be a true showstopper. There's a lot to take in, and much of it is centered on the latest version of BMW's iDrive control and operating system.
The 12.3-inch information display is at the heart of the action, augmented by a 14.9-inch control panel — however the two are joined and practically work as one unit.
It's all really neatly designed, and Operating System 8 works very well, even if you don't like touchy-feely screens.
This mix of performance, dynamic styling and plethora of on-board technology makes this electric car a difficult act to keep up with!
BMW has a long history of making vehicles that are built to last and have a quality edge that justifies their prices!
For more information and to request a test drive with BMW’s electric car i4 M50, do not hesitate to get in touch with our sales team at Charalambos Pilakoutas Group.