BMW’s i4 is entering the final months of its current form. With the arrival of the new i3 built on the Neue Klasse platform, the German automaker will bring the electric Gran Coupé’s career to a close. But the i4 badge doesn’t appear destined to vanish for good. BMW is reportedly preparing a return on a model that’s very different. A genuine two‑door electric coupe, potentially even offered with a convertible.
The current BMW i4 is bidding farewell to its present form
Launched in 2021, the BMW i4 holds a distinct place in the brand’s electric lineup. Unlike models developed purely around an all-electric architecture, it sits on a shared platform with internal-combustion vehicles and adopts the silhouette of the 4 Series Gran Coupé.
That formula has, however, reached the end of the road. Joachim Post, a member of BMW’s board overseeing development, confirmed that the current i4 would not remain in the lineup alongside the new i3.
The forthcoming electric sedan from the Neue Klasse family will gradually take its place. A decision that will lead to the disappearance of the i4 as we know it today. Nevertheless, BMW apparently does not intend to abandon the name.
According to reported information, the next use of the i4 badge would be markedly sportier. Instead of designating a four-door Gran Coupé, it could be assigned to a true two-door electric coupe.
An electric Cabriolet also on BMW’s radar
This future model would thus complement BMW’s new electric family while preserving a more traditional architecture for the brand. The idea would be to offer a zero-emission alternative to the coupes that have long contributed to the Bavarian manufacturer’s sporty image.
Joachim Post did not officially confirm the name of the future model. He did, however, explain that BMW intends to keep offering emotional cars. Including in its new generation of electric vehicles.
The coupe would not be the only project under consideration. BMW is also considering a cabriolet version of this future electric model. The introduction of such body styles would mark a significant evolution in the brand’s electric strategy. Up to now, BMW has largely focused its efforts on electric sedans and SUVs — segments capable of delivering larger sales volumes.
With a coupe and possibly a cabriolet, the German manufacturer could broaden its lineup toward models more oriented toward pleasure and image.
The Neue Klasse will profoundly transform the lineup
The timeline, however, remains distant. These new variants are not expected in the near term, and their technical specifications have yet to be released.
This evolution of the i4 fits into the much broader renewal currently underway at BMW around the Neue Klasse. The new architecture is meant to underpin a major generation of electric vehicles. The forthcoming BMW i3 will, in particular, occupy the field of the electric sedan, making the current i4 Gran Coupé less relevant to exist alongside it.
BMW could therefore use this reorganization to give the number 4 a much more precise identity in its electric lineup. Just as with the internal-combustion 4 Series, the i4 badge would then be associated with Coupé bodies and possibly Cabriolet.
The current BMW i4 is thus poised to disappear, but its name could enjoy a second, far more sporty life. If the project materializes, the shift to the Neue Klasse will not simply mean more SUVs and electric sedans. The Propeller badge company also intends to preserve a place for pleasure-driving cars in its zero-emission future.
