GM Benchmarking Electric BMW i4 Gran Coupe
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GM is diving head first into the nascent but still growing electric vehicle space, with plans to cover a wide variety of segments by launching 30 new EVs globally by 2025. To that end, the Detroit-based automaker is also evaluating rival EVs on sale today, including the BMW i4 Gran Coupe.
GM Authority spies captured a BMW i4 Gran Coupe – a fully electric coupe-styled sedan from the Munich-based automaker – in the hands of GM’s competitive benchmarking team, spotted in the vicinity of the GM Milford Proving Ground.
Take note of the roof-mounted CB antenna, which is likely used to transmit signals per GM’s competitive intelligence processes.
The BMW i4 is BMW’s entry into the compact executive sedan EV segment. Measuring in at 188.5 inches in length, this all-electric sedan is BMW’s idea of the perfect EV daily driver, delivering a combination of a refined cabin, a supple ride, and athletic handling.
Highlights include an optional dual electric motor setup, only available on M50 trims, delivering 536 horsepower and a 0-60 mph acceleration of just over three seconds, and around 300 miles of highway range at 75 mph.
Currently, Cadillac has no direct competitor to the BMW i4. Although in the general vicinity as the German sedan from a size standpoint, the Cadillac CT4 and Cadillac CT5 will not get any electrification at any point. However, GM Authority sources tell us that GM is planning a duo of Cadillac electric sedans to replace the CT4 and CT5, likely explaining for the benchmarking.
The BMW i4 has a starting price, for the eDrive40 model, of $55,900. For comparison, the CT4 and CT4 have starting prices of $34,395 and $38,195, respectively.
As a reminder, the Cadillac CT4 Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trims are offered as standard wit the turbocharged 2.7L I4 LSY engine (carrying the 350T badge on the decklid), while the turbocharged 2.7L I4 L3B is offered as an option on the Premium Luxury trim (where it carries the 500T designation).
The Cadillac CT5 Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trims share base boosted LSY engine (badged 350T), while the larger twin-turbo 3.0L V6 LGY is offered on the Premium Luxury model (badged 550T).
Both the CT4 and CT5 are built on the GM Alpha 2 platform, with production for North American markets taking place at the GM Lansing Grand River plant in Michigan.
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I truly hope this is a sign that GM will be giving us some EV sedan/cars. Please.
They will be, from Cadillac 🙂
They will have the 2022 BMW competitor in 2027 and it will be just about as good with slightly cheaper materials. But BMW will be releasing a new 2027 that year.
It’s been that way since forever.
I don’t like the front grille on the BMW at all it looks horrible in my opinion!
Why in the World would GM be bench marking BMW ICE based BEV’s?
It might be because they want to see how BMW went about creating an EV from an ICE platform. It could be a faster (and less expensive) way to develop an EV. The common platform opens the possibility of sharing the production line with its ICE sibling. Sharing the line allows for quicker adjustment of product mix based on demand. That’s a lot of upside for a legacy automaker. Even Tesla developed its first Roadster from a Lotus chassis.
Not to mention that BMW sells every one they can build right now, so…
@T. Coates
Utilizing an ICE Platform for an EV is not a good strategy at all as most Automakers are finding out.
Reuters just had a report that even BEV Denier Toyota is having emergency internal meetings because they are quickly realizing that using ICE Platforms are not a good idea and do not make the Profit margins needed. Besides the economic aspect of it, using ICE Platforms for BEV’s also makes them much less efficient as they are much heavier vehicles. Look at the Ford F-150 Lightning, it cannot compete with the GM Twins on Range because they are using ICE Platform and just shoving Batteries wherever they can cram them. Not an efficient design at all!!!
As an example, The Tesla Model 3 weighs less than the BMW (ICE version) 330i…..Let that sink in.
Autoline did a great video explaining this. Great watch and John did a great job going through the issues using ICE Platforms.
I agree with everything you say. There is absolutely no question that a dedicated EV platform is ideal and I never suggested that leveraging an existing ICE platform would be better. I only said, “It could be a faster (and less expensive) way to develop an EV.”
Ford is selling the F-150 today while the Silverado is “Available starting Summer 2024” according to chevrolet.com and the Sierra is listed as “early 2024”.