BMW building its first M-badged EV

PLUS: Rimac Nevera EV hypercar, an all-electric Greek island, Tesla recall.

If you have trouble reading this message, view it in a browser.     This week VW starts transforming a Greek island, EVgo launches a reservation system, Rimac unveils the Nevera, and the Mustang Mach-E is the No. 1 seller...in Norway. But first: Leading off its charge to offer a full slate of EVs, BMW will roll out three electric models early next year—including an M.     A wave of new electric BMWs is finally on the way, with the Munich-based automaker revealing details of three models arriving soon to compete with Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and others—and an M model will be among them.     Two distinct body styles arrive early next year, a sedan and compact crossover. The i4 four-door will come either in rear-wheel-drive i4 eDrive40 guise, serving up 335 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque from an 82-kWh battery, while the all-wheel-drive i4 M50 will rely on the same battery but will produce up to 536 hp and 586 lb-ft of torque in sport mode.    The milder of the two sedans is expected to offer a range close to 300 miles, while the spicier M50 will trade some power for distance, serving up around 240 miles on a full charge. These are preliminary figures; EPA numbers will be released closer to the models' U.S. market launch.    The i4 eDrive40 won't be aimed directly at the Model 3 despite being quite close in size, but it is still destined to be endlessly compared to it. BMW's electric model will be far pricier, starting at $56,395 for the eDrive40, and $66,895 for the M50.   The iX xDrive50 sports that questionable grille and a $84,195 sticker.    Those who will prefer more room and ride height in their electric BMW may wish to pick the iX xDrive50 crossover, with its 516 hp, 4.6-second 0-to-62 mph launches, an expected range of 300 miles—and that polarizing face. They go on sale in the first quarter of 2022 starting at $84,195 before options. It's pretty clear that a lot of these will be close to the six-figure mark out the door even with the $7500 federal tax incentive.           VW Starts Turning Greek Island into an EV Oasis The Greek island of Astypalea receives its first EVs from Volkswagen, as part of a plan to replace all vehicles on the island with EVs. The island will transition to sustainable energy sources in the coming years,too, relying on solar and wind power. And electric scooters and EV car-sharing will replace buses, while residents will be given incentives to replace their cars with EVs. READ THE FULL STORY EVgo Launches Option to Reserve Charging Spots A week after Audi announced that it will be building a concept of a luxury charging hub, station provider EVgo rolled out its own charger reservation system on a pilot basis. The concept is quite basic: $3.00 paid via an app will allow drivers to reserve their own spot at a particular charger either on the same day or in advance, ensuring that their spot will be vacant when they arrive. READ THE FULL STORY Tesla Recalls Model 3, Model Y for Loose Brake Bolts READ MORE Here's the Production Rimac Nevera READ MORE Ford Mustang Mach-E Was Norway's Best-Seller in May READ MORE Senate Panel Wants to Raise EV Tax Credit up to $12,500 READ MORE New EVs with the Longest Driving Range Ranked READ MORE All the EV Pickup Trucks Coming Down the Pike READ MORE       Spread the word: If you know someone interested in staying on top of the rapidly growing EV segment, feel free to pass this newsletter along. SIGN UP Follow Us Unsubscribe Privacy Notice Autoweek.com ©2021 Hearst Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Email Privacy, 300 W 57th St., Fl. 19 (sta 1-1), New York, NY 10019