BMW’s all-new i3 was unveiled earlier this week after months of anticipation. It sets the tone for the gas-powered 3 Series to follow, and will also become one of the company’s smallest EVs when it goes on sale; most BMW EVs are larger sedans and SUVs. To make room for the i3, another model will be discontinued, that being the i4. The coupe-style i4’s smaller size and lighter weight make for one of the more enjoyable EV drives in BMW’s lineup, but the big step up in technology and design in the i3 will ultimately mean the end of the current i4.
Related: 2027 BMW i3 Vs. Tesla Model 3: 5 Major Differences
When Will The i4 Be Axed?
BMW
The new BMW i3 will start arriving in the U.S. in 2027, so the i4 will stick around until then before being phased out. Sources at BMW told Autocar the i4 will go out of production next year, without specifying an exact date. On sale since 2021, the i4 arrived before the new wave of BMW EVs, including the i5, i7, and iX3. BMW says that discontinuing the i4 was always part of its plan once the i3 arrived.
“When you look back on the last 20 years, you always had new models coming in and old models phasing out,” said Jochen Goller, BMW Group product boss. “So I think this is part of the history of our industry. And what you will always see is the volumes of the existing cars, in this case the i4, phasing out, and then [the new car href=”https://www.autoblog.com/reviews/”], the i3, clearly ramping up. But as with every model, that was already factored into our planning.”
The i4 is currently offered with up to 592 horsepower in the case of the M60 model. It’s quick and the handling is excellent, but the older battery tech means the range only goes up to 333 miles, whereas the new i3 can hit 440.
Related: 2026 BMW i4 Takes the Fight to Tesla and Audi With More Range and Power
BMW i4 Sales Have Been Underrated
BMW
Last year in the U.S., BMW sold 20,114 units of the i4. Like most EVs last year, this was a decline relative to 2024, but the i4 was easily BMW’s best-selling EV; the iX was a distant second at 12,587 units. The only other true luxury EV to sell over 20,000 units last year was the Cadillac Lyriq (20,971), while Rivian’s R1S is also worth a mention (24,852), although Rivian is perceived as more of a premium marque than a luxury one. In 2024, the i4 alone outsold Audi’s entire EV lineup, another indication of just how popular it has been. The new iX3 is expected to take over as the brand’s most popular EV, though, as initial demand has been strong.
At $57,900, the i4’s current base price makes it far more attainable than the i5 ($67,100), which has been a large part of its success. There are high hopes that the i3 will be much closer to $50,000, particularly cheaper single-motor variants that are expected at some stage.
The good news is that BMW isn’t killing the 4 Series/i4 lineup forever. A new generation is expected to be in the pipeline, which will once again be positioned as a sportier and more driver-focused alternative to the 3 Series/i3. It’s likely some way off, though, and is only expected after the i3 lineup is expanded.
Related: BMW’s EV Domination: Outsells Audi & Mercedes
