- The five-door BMW i4 Gran Coupe is being phased out, with the four-door i3 sedan taking its place.
- The i4 name is expected to return later this decade as a coupe-and-convertible duo.
- Spy shots suggest the i4 convertible will arrive before its coupe sibling.
It’s safe to say the i4 has served its purpose as an electric 3 Series, but time is running out for the five-door liftback. Earlier this year, BMW product boss Bernd Körber told Motor1 that the new i3 is essentially the i4’s successor, leaving no room in the lineup for the aging model running on previous-generation hardware. The i3 has the company’s most efficient electric motors to date, plus cylindrical battery cells with 20 percent higher energy density for significantly more range.
According to a new report from BMWBLOG, BMW will retire the i4 either by the end of this year or in early 2027, depending on the market. Interestingly, the nameplate might not remain dormant for long. Although Munich won’t be doing another electric Gran Coupe in the 3 Series/4 Series segment, the moniker is allegedly being repurposed for a pair of two-door models.
An all-new coupe and convertible without combustion engines are apparently on the way, with the rumor emerging shortly after BMW pulled the plug on several two-door cars. Production of the Z4 roadster and 8 Series has ended, leaving the German luxury brand with only the 2 Series Coupe and 4 Series Coupe/Convertible in its lineup of less practical cars.
BMW i4 Coupe (2027) Rendering
Photo by: Motor1.com Deutschland
BMW Keeps The Coupe And Cabrio Alive In Neue Klasse Era
Although coupes typically take precedence, BMW could break with the norm and launch the convertible first. We’re making that assumption based on the fact that our sister site, Motor1 Deutschland, has already spotted a prototype of an electric four-seat convertible with a folding fabric roof. Both models are rumored to arrive in 2028, likely a few months apart.
In the meantime, BMW is cooking up a couple of other similarly sized EVs. There’s an i3 Touring on the way for the wagon-loving crowd, with production expected to kick off in mid-2027. Sadly, the same BMWBLOG says it won’t be coming to the United States, where the M5 Touring could remain the only long-roof model for some time. Well, unless the next-gen M3 wagon changes that.
But before all these new EVs break cover, a first-ever iX4 is coming sooner than you might think. The wraps are supposedly coming off in the next few months, if not weeks. This time around, BMW won’t develop another X4 generation with combustion engines, as the fully electric model will serve as its de facto successor. Judging by a massive leak on the company’s U.S. website earlier this year, the iX4 will be available for the 2027 model year.
Many, if not all, of these future i-badged models are widely expected to spawn high-performance variants, following in the footsteps of next year’s M3 and X3 M pair of sporty EVs to carry the “M” letter.
Motor1’s Take: BMW is clearly reshuffling its electric lineup rather than simply adding EVs alongside the combustion-powered models we already know. The i3 is taking over the i4’s role as the electric 3 Series, while the iX4 will effectively replace the X4. That leaves the i4 name in an interesting position: instead of being tied to a practical five-door liftback, it could become the badge for a pair of more emotional, less practical EVs.
That makes a lot of sense on paper, especially as BMW trims its two-door lineup. An electric coupe and convertible would give the i4 name a fresh identity while preserving some of the fun that’s increasingly disappearing from BMW’s range. If these rumors pan out, the i4 won’t really be dying; it’ll simply be getting a much more interesting second act.
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