2024 BMW i4 M50 enters PH market with P5.990 million price tag

BMW Philippines, under the management of SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp., has officially rolled out the BMW i4 M50 for the local market. It follows the introduction of the BMW i4 eDrive35 which was launched in January 2024.

2024 BMW i4 M50

This all-new BMW i4 M50 version appears to be sportier-looking compared to the eDrive35, and it is positioned by the company to entice its clients to step into the world of fully electric vehicles (EV). This is because the said model is touted to demonstrate a good balance of practicality, performance, and luxury.

So what is the 2024 BMW i4 M50 like and does it have the specs to catch the attention of car enthusiasts who are yet to dip their toes into EVs? Let’s find out.

Exterior

On the outside, the BMW i4 M50 assumes a gran coupe body style with elongated proportions which are further enhanced by design elements that are true to the German marque’s identity. All of these go along with a sleek silhouette with a flowing roofline.

The i4 M50 from the front

Up front, the M50 proudly displays a hefty-looking version of the brand’s signature kidney grille. This, in turn, is capped from the bottom by a larger air vent and flanked by sharp LED headlamp clusters.

Being an EV, the grilles are closed off and are given a black glossy finish and an eye-catching design pattern. This is paired with black-colored side vents, as well as a muscular-looking hood up top.

Over to the side, the i4 M50 gets black-colored power-folding side mirrors, a black-colored side skirt, and a set of BMW M 19-inch bi-color wheels. The rear meanwhile, gets an M spoiler, a pair of eye-catching LED taillights, and a sporty rear diffuser.

Check out its sleek side profile

Other equipment found on the exterior of the i4 M50 include a power trunk door, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamp functionality, and the M high gloss shadow line. As per its name, this component adds a high gloss black-color frame around the windows for a more standout look.

Interior

Step inside the i4 M50 and you’ll be greeted by a driver-centric cockpit and an interior that can comfortably seat up to five occupants in total.

All inside are kept comfortable by automatic air conditioning, and plenty of leather-wrapped soft-touch surfaces. The front seats are bolstered M Sport seats, while all seats are wrapped in Vernasca leather with blue contrast stitching.

A peek inside the i4 M50's cockpit

The interior also gets ambient lighting for setting the mood, and plenty of embellishments are present on the dashboard to provide eye candy. These include the M-spec “Rhombicle” anthracite trim package, and the “Galvanic” trim pieces that surround most of the vehicle’s control surfaces.

For the driver, the i4 M50 provides power-adjustable seating with a memory function. The car’s rearview camera also has anti-dazzle functionality, while its multi-function steering wheel is wrapped in M leather for a performance-oriented feel.

Tech & Safety

Dominating the dashboard of the BMW i4 M50 is a 14.9-inch central display which is seamlessly integrated into a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. This widescreen-like setup is underscored by the BMW ConnectedDrive and the BMW iDrive Operating System 8.5.

For the iDrive OS, it provides easy smartphone integration for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This likewise leverages BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant which can be voice-controlled to perform a variety of tasks and functions.

Rear cabin occupants have access to plenty of charging ports

In addition, ConnectedDrive allows the car to be linked with the MyBMW phone app. This enables a user to remotely control the car’s functions, and monitor the vehicle’s essential information from the convenience of one’s phone.

The i4 M50 also has access to the brand’s on-the-air updates and the BMW Maps. The former is connected to cloud servers allowing users to download improved functions via software patches. The maps feature in turn, provide real-time traffic data, as well as precise route calculations.

For safety, the i4 M50 gets plenty of standard safety equipment. It has a total of eight airbags, anti-lock braking, dynamic stability control, dynamic traction control, cornering brake control, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and a tire repair kit, among others.

The BMW i4 M50's rear cabin

The standard features aboard the i4 M50 are then reinforced by a wealth of advanced driver-assistive systems (ADAS). Collectively, this is known as the BMW Driving Assistant package and it includes lane departure warning, lane change warning, front collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian warning, rear-cross traffic warning, rear collision prevention, and manual speed limit assist.

Engine

Propelling the i4 M50 is a fifth-gen BMW eDrive technology powertrain. At the maximum, this dual motor and battery combo provides up to 544 horsepower and 795 Nm of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via a single-speed fixed-ratio automatic gearbox.

The BMW i4 M50 from the rear

As per the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) the 2024 BMW i4 M50 has a range of up to 520 kilometers in a single charge. The WLTP also estimates that it has a 22.5 to 18.5 kWh per 100 km consumption rate.

With that kind of power, BMW claims that the i4 M50 can do zero to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds. It also has a claimed top speed of 225 km/h.

Price

As of its launch, the BMW i4 M50 is offered with a standard retail price of Php 5,990,000. Of note, a purchase of this high-performance EV includes a BMW Wallbox charger which can be installed by a BMW partner at a customer’s home. Plus, the vehicle comes with a 5-year comprehensive BMW warranty, a six-year BMW service-inclusive package, and an eight-year BMW high-voltage battery warranty.

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