2026 BMW i4 to Gain a Bit of Range, More Powerful M60 Model
Among the electric cars benefiting from Tesla's freefall is the BMW i4, whose Canadian sales rose by 17 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025 despite the abrupt end to the federal ZEV incentive program in January.
This week, the German automaker announced a series of enhancements and updates to its model range, effective from this summer onwards, and the electric compact sedan happens to be one of the main beneficiaries.
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While the 70.2kWh and 83.9kWh batteries are carried over, the single-motor 2026 BMW i4 with rear-wheel drive will offer slightly longer range thanks to silicon carbide semiconductor components in the power electronics that reduce energy consumption by around 4.5 percent. Depending on the model and equipment installed, the change will add up to 22 km of range based on the WLTP standard—more like 15 km or so when Natural Resources Canada releases the official ratings, which would mean just over 440 km for the i4 eDrive35 and 525 km for the i4 eDrive40.
The xDrive40 model with all-wheel drive (462 km) is unchanged. However, the top-line i4 M50 xDrive will be renamed M60 xDrive to reflect its increased output. Instead of a maximum of 536 hp with the power boost function activated, the car will now deliver 593 hp. The acceleration time from 0-100 km/h will be reduced from 3.9 to 3.7 seconds in the process.
Initially launched as a 2022 model, the BMW i4 may not survive the current generation if we look further down the line. Not because it lacks appeal or merit (on the contrary, the i4 continues to reap prestigious honours), but because a new generation of electric vehicles—known as the Neue Klasse—will soon hit the market with more advanced technology and a brand new design.
The future BMW i3 electric sedan, previewed by the concept below, is expected to debut next year as a 2027 model.
