[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by NorCalAthlete

From 2018 :

https://jalopnik.com/sedans-dont-mak...ore-1826673000

Sure. But everything they said about sedans applies to coupes as well. In fact, one could argue that coupes double down on the "not making sense" part in that they lack dedicated doors for access to the rear seats which obviously impacts passenger convenience.

I contend that coupes should make a comeback in the days of the modern SUV taking over sales. I further posit that an all-electric, high performance sports coupe (ala Tesla Roadster) would help spur the charge.

The type of vehicle you are talking about here - dedicated sports cars - vehicles which eschew conveniences in the quest for performance including major features like rear seats (or at least, practical ones - some do offer so-called 2+2 seating) - are absolutely headed toward electrification. You will soon have plenty of choices.

But those are distinct from typical luxury coupes (and convertibles for that matter) that share their vehicle architecture and the majority of their parts with sedans. Certainly the 4 Series coupe falls into this latter category, and so would any i4 Coupe if it were to exist.

As the market shifts ever-further to SUVs and trucks it makes sense to me that sedans will further decline, leaving a gap to be filled by coupes again.

That's kinda where my mind's at on it, I'd love to hear your guys' and gals' thoughts on it. I mean I can't be the only one thinking an all-electric 4-series that did 0-60 in 2.5s and had a 400 mile range would be an awesome commuter car.

The i4 *is* an electric 4 Series though, right? I get it - you meant "4 Series Coupe". But the thing is, as the pool of passenger car buyers shrinks, the number of those who demand the rear doors be taken away shrinks as well. It is quite possible that the four door coupe is the new coupe. However, the good news there is that means you can have your electric BMW coupe in 2022 instead of who knows when.

[SabineBimmer]

Originally Posted by ///M TOWN

That's the idea

And the wind going through your hair

And the screaming complaints from the rubber as you torture it

Interesting take! Never thought of that. Nice!

[LSM]

Watched the entire video waiting for this "brisk acceleration" :

[Roch M4]

Is this the future shape of the 4 series Grand Coupe?

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by Roch M4

Is this the future shape of the 4 series Grand Coupe?

For the most part, yes..

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

It's that and more. SUVs are decimating passenger car sales, and coupes are becoming a niche within a niche. Furthermore coupe buyers are probably even less likely to show interest in electric drive than SUV and sedan buyers. So it's a niche within a niche within a niche, and that means it's very difficult to make a business case.

..i'm that small, small niche... The New Tesla Roadster is a BIT out of my price range... what I would not give for a iG22 or iG82...

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by NorCalAthlete

From 2018 :

https://jalopnik.com/sedans-dont-mak...ore-1826673000

I contend that coupes should make a comeback in the days of the modern SUV taking over sales. I further posit that an all-electric, high performance sports coupe (ala Tesla Roadster) would help spur the charge.

...

That's kinda where my mind's at on it, I'd love to hear your guys' and gals' thoughts on it. I mean I can't be the only one thinking an all-electric 4-series that did 0-60 in 2.5s and had a 400 mile range would be an awesome commuter car.

HEAR HEAR!! I'd buy one in a heartbeat

[jmg]

If it has the character and nimbleness of my i3, this might replace it. It is slightly too big for a commuter, but I guess the wife and kids won't be complaining.

[ManGGouste]

Originally Posted by Macphisto

I need this car to prevent me from getting a Tesla Model 3 long range.

In my case it did not prevent me, I got tired of waiting for a car that would not come. They're coming when the party is long started.
Roast me if you want but the modern BMW equivalent are now Teslas: if you want all the performance and handling you can get for the buck.
Unfortunately BMW is clearly not lead by engineers anymore, maybe they make good money selling big-grilled SUVs and FWD but to me they've become luxury cars with a decent chassis, that's all. The focus on making the best driving dynamics are long gone IMO.

[clee1982]

Originally Posted by NorCalAthlete

That's kinda where my mind's at on it, I'd love to hear your guys' and gals' thoughts on it. I mean I can't be the only one thinking an all-electric 4-series that did 0-60 in 2.5s and had a 400 mile range would be an awesome commuter car.

An i4 that fast would be awesome but you know BMW will handicap that even if they could do it due to current line up

[hotrod182]

Originally Posted by SabineBimmer

Interesting take! Never thought of that. Nice!

The best part about an electric car is the sound. The sound of the other car's engine next to you, comically struggling and shifting as you effortlessly pull away. And I'm being serious. Being in an electric car allows you to hear every bit of throttle modulation of the car next to you. Meanwhile, the space age sound of the electric drivetrain is pretty intoxicating by itself.

[mbanck]

Originally Posted by jmg

If it has the character and nimbleness of my i3, this might replace it. It is slightly too big for a commuter, but I guess the wife and kids won't be complaining.

Well, it won't have the price tag of an i3, I'm pretty sure.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by mbanck

Well, it won't have the price tag of an i3, I'm pretty sure.

Yeah, the days of stealing i3's off the lot are over. Big discounts plus incentives put me in 3 i3's for less than $200/mo with nothing out of pocket. For a $52k car, it's a steal.

I hope the i4 to be priced around $60k though, paired with the BMW standard inflated residual and hopefully some incentives will keep it at around $500/mo for 10k miles. That's good enough for me.

[cfm56d7b]

The i4 is worth waiting for but with the delayed availability BMW is facing more pressure to deliver a segment leading (once again leading) vehicle. The future sales environment will
not be kind to mediocre "me too" offering.

[thekidd]

I'm looking forward to an electric sports sedan from bmw! Model 3 looks eh and model S is old so put the body of a bmw and the guts of a Tesla together (then fix the reliability of Tesla guts) and bam BMW stock reaches $1000/share

[USA-RET]

Originally Posted by phoenixbmwlife

Anyone else notice the panoramic moon roof not there? Hopefully this is just an early test mule and that's why.

Likely part of the 15% not expected to make the production car from the i4 Concept car.

[USA-RET]

Originally Posted by NorCalAthlete

Serious question - why such a focus on electric sedans for everyone (Tesla, BMW, etc)? Is it purely because sedans are outselling coupes? Battery technology isn't there yet to give a coupe the same capabilities with a smaller battery pack, so they need the extra space to hit range target numbers? Combination of the above?

My guess would be a sedan has more appeal to those with a family over a sport coupe. I prefer a 2 dr car (just the wife and I), but could and would accept a EV sedan with decent range as a alternative to a 2dr coupe. If I had a kid or two my focus would be strictly on a 4 dr car or an SUV out of practicality. So BMW going with an i4 Gran coupe as their first Tesla competitor seems make good business and marketing sense.

My next car will be a EV, and Tesla (Model 3 LR) has my eye. If the i4 can match the range and the price point of the Tesla, I'd certainly consider that car over the Tesla as I prefer the interior design of the i4 over the Model 3.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by USA-RET

My next car will be a EV, and Tesla (Model 3 LR) has my eye. If the i4 can match the range and the price point of the Tesla, I'd certainly consider that car over the Tesla as I prefer the interior design of the i4 over the Model 3.

Suggest also considering the Polestar 2 (after the regular price models come out following the launch model) and also reading the JDPower report on Initial Quality regarding Tesla just published before deciding. Good luck!

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by jstein55

Those Long Range Model 3's are a pretty good value in my opinion.

And, they get you a Whopper!

https://electrek.co/2020/06/25/tesla...s-ad-campaign/

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by jstein55

That was very painful to watch, good thing I don't care for Burger King

Possibly engineered by the same guy who (mis)managed sheet metal design and assembly and the paint booth!

[USA-RET]

Originally Posted by jstein55

I wouldn't get your hopes up on that. Current target range is at 270 for the i4 and EPA could make that lower for all we know, and I would expect prices to be very high, likely around well equipped M340i prices (~$65k). Those Long Range Model 3's are a pretty good value in my opinion.

I still cannot reconcile the range disparity between what BMW publishes (373 miles) and the SWAG's of 270 miles from the car magazines.

I understand the EPA vs. WLPT range differences (more highway vs. more urban/residential driving), however, when comparing cars already in existence (Model 3 as an example) the differences in ranges (when actually tested using both EPA and WLPT standards) do not come close to losing 103 miles of range. Actual difference is more in line with 50-60 miles of range difference.

I will reserve judgement on i4 actual range until it is released and tested (like the Model 3, i3, i8 and others).

If BMW is hoping to steal some of Tesla's thunder, the starting price for the i4 should be competitive with the Model 3 long range version ($50K). Okay, so it's a BMW, and they tack on another $4-$5K because of the propeller badge, I'm still in. Starting at $65K, they can keep it.

I also think we will see Tesla start using new battery tech in the newer Model 3s (which they will be exclusively producing in-house), bumping ranges up to 400 miles or more.

Whether you like Tesla or not, they were smart having invested in vertical integration of most all of their car's components. They won't have to share their battery tech with other car makers. Every "Tesla killer" introduced so far hasn't achieved that goal. Most cost thousand$ more and don't have the range. Every comparison I've read in car mags seems to agree, picking the Tesla over the competition.

The i4 is the first EV I've seen from another manufacturer that appears to be priced @ and have the range to actually give Tesla a challenge.

We do live in interesting times for sure.

[mbanck]

Originally Posted by USA-RET

The i4 is the first EV I've seen from another manufacturer that appears to be priced @ and have the range to actually give Tesla a challenge.

What about the Polestar 2, which is actually shipping right now and not in 1,5 years?