BMW i4 M50 Sound System

The sound is powered by BMW M IconicSounds Electric. The sound of the electric car itself was developed by Hans Zimmer, similar to the iX. The soundscapes have been created for sport and comfort mode and are meant to help define the difference between the modes. It’s a highly emotive world for sound and therefore needs to be prioritised in an electric vehicle as they are primarily silent. The soundscapes can be adapted via the driving experience control. Ranging from powerfully dynamic with clear loud feedback in SPORT mode to harmonious acoustics with slight load feedback in comfort mode. Whereas ECO Pro mode is completely silent. The variety and differences between modes and with braking are what helps the driver to experience the car to its full potential and capability. The soundscapes allow you to feel like you are driving a Sport/M car as it’s hard to experience this in an electric vehicle. However, we at Auto Export think that the sounds that have been produced do not have the authenticity that a diesel or petrol sport engine gives.

BMW i4 M50 vs Tesla Model 3 Space

In terms of passenger space inside the electric vehicle’s the Tesla Model 3 completely out-performs the i4. The Tesla has a very first-class cabin-like space- with lots of legroom. Whereas the BMW i4 M50 takes the same spatial capacity and underpinnings as its brother model the 3 series. Its boot space, however, is very impressive. With 470-litres of space, the i4 M50 outdoes the Porsche Taycan and the Ford Mustang Mach-E.

Driving

The driving ability of the BMW i4 M50 is very impressive. The car drives with a thrust that gives you a gamified feel to the car. When stepping on the accelerator, the nose of the vehicle lifts to the sky. BMW has said that this is because of the sheer amount of torque the M50 is deploying with such little fanfare. With the vehicle being predicted to do 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds. However, we were able to do it in an astonishing 3.62 seconds. Showing the immediate power being given out by this vehicle – something that a petrol or diesel car will not be able to achieve. The BMW i4 M50’s top speed varies from 130-140mph, again showing the sheer power dynamic of the vehicle. A smooth and exhilarating drive is achievable in this innovative BMW electric vehicle. EVs don’t have to be extravagant in looks to impress, this car is a prime example as it looks just like the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. For us personally, EVs just have to have an incredible drivability and infotainment system. The I4 M50 has a high-performance drivetrain, the combination of a large high-voltage battery with a high range ensures driving pleasure even for longer journeys. Helping to provide a good range and monster performance even on a 2.2-tonne car. The weight of it is close to that of the BMW iX, which sits at 2.5 tonnes. This surprised me as the iX looks insanely larger than the i4 M50. The i4 M50 is in fact heavier than the BMW x5 40i. This helps in terms of understanding the car through comparisons of its sister vehicles. 

Included in this vehicle is the BMW eDrive, based on the eDrive technology. There are 6 driving modes altogether, with one of them being a sub-mode that shifts to one-pedal driving. The first mode is 1. Comfort. This is for everyday driving, through residential roads and areas. The second mode is 2. Sport. This adds a little bit of throttle and power, similar to the average sports mode in all cars. The third mode is 3. Sport Boost. This mode helps to get the vehicle at a fast pace very quickly and because the vehicle is electric, this power happens instantaneously. This mode has 544hp and gives a whopping 799 Nm of torque. This mode benefits from the two powerful BMW M eDrive motors on the front of and rear axles. Because the vehicle is electric, the amount of power given depends on the battery life. Therefore, when the car battery is low, expect the car to decrease in power. Anything below 90% the car will slowly become less powerful and the battery life to decrease at a fast rate. The fourth mode is 4. Sport Individual. In this mode you can configure your own sporty settings. The 5th mode is similar to the last 5. Configure Individuals. In which you configure from the bottom up the settings, no influence based on the sport mode. The 6th and final mode is 6. B Mode. This mode offers extra regenerative braking. When lifting off of the accelerator the car slows even more than normal and can actually bring the car to a stop quite fast. The 6th mode would be most efficient when in traffic and residential areas. It is a form of one-pedal driving. 

Another feature that has been added to the BMW i4 M50 that is worth mentioning is the cruise control element. This feature holds assisted driving and steering to support the driver when the feature is active. If you’re driving on the motorway or main road and there has been a speed restriction, the car recognises this restriction and adjusts accordingly. 

Braking and Wheels

The M Sport Brake uses four-piston fixed callipers at the front and single-piston floating callipers at the rear in a blue high-gloss with an M logo which helps to give good braking even on wet surfaces. This along with the rear-biassed setup of the all-wheel-drive highlights the defining sporty character of the i4 M50. A standard of 19” M Light alloy wheels are available with also an optional extra of having 20” M light-alloy wheels with a double-spoke style. The M sport brake on the front axle is then further reinforced thanks to the larger brake discs. 

With the i4 M50, there has been an adaptive M suspension with a specific setup added onto the vehicle. Alongside this, an additional variable sport steering with an M sport brake is included ensuring the greatest possible precision when driving. I believe that it is the add-ons like these that really boost the vehicle’s possibility and credibility.

Exterior