It’s been just about a month since BMW launched the new M3 and the M4. While the bucktooth grille became the talk of the town, there was one other piece of news around that time that didn’t receive as much attention as it should have. BMW Performance Division’s CEO, Markus Flasch, said that M’s first fully electric car will arrive next year and it will be based on the i4. When you have a confirmation from the automaker, it doesn’t take long for the car to be spotted doing test runs, and the same has happened here, too.

New spy shots have appeared that show the i4 M draped in black and white sheets to avoid people from guessing what it is, but hey, who are we kidding here?

2022 BMW i4 M

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2022 BMW i4 M
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

How’s It Going To Look?

BMW has made some drastic changes to its design philosophy in the last few years, but surprisingly, the electric division is not seeing any drama with its upcoming launches. The iX3, for instance, looks identical to the standard X3. This one, too, doesn’t seem to be too wild from what we can decipher.

Given that it will be an M model, and the first electric one from the division, it should’ve looked a lot different. But, all you can notice here are the slightly wider fender flares and M twin-stalk wing mirrors. The kidney-grille can be seen peeping from the cloth mesh and it is a large one, whether you like it or not. Yes, it is camouflaged and we shouldn’t jump to conclusions, but even then, there does seem to be any wild changes.

However, it is also interesting to note that this won’t be an M model like the M3, M4, or the likes. It’s going to be the M version of the i4. So, something like the M350i, or the M550i. If BMW were to introduce a full M version, it will a successor to the M4 instead of the i4’s performance model. Perhaps, that explains the subtle changes. Also, the front end of this one looks more similar to the 4 Series than the i4 Concept.

What Kind Of Power Can We Expect Here?

The i4 Concept that was unveiled at this year’s Geneva Motor Show was powered by a single motor that made 530 horses. The company claims a 0-60 mph run in four seconds. The i4 Concept showcased three driving modes – Core, Sport, and Efficient – as well.

As for the range, BMW claimed that the i4 Concept came with an 80kWh battery pack that is good to go for 372 miles on a full charge. These are WLTP ratings, which happen to be much more lenient than EPA ratings, but it still looks pretty decent on paper. It will also support 150kW charging that can charge up to 80-percent in just 35 minutes. Can we expect the i4 M to be better in all these aspects?

Final Thoughts

The i4 is supposed to come next year, but it looks like the Bavarian won’t take long to launch the i4 M as well. What are your expectations from the BMW Performance Division’s first electric car? Share them with us in the comments section below.