The 2022 BMW i4 has great expectations ahead of it and then some. Not only does the German automaker hope it'll be successful as an all-electric vehicle, but also as a sedan. As we well know by now, the sedan segment has suffered setbacks in recent years as buyers are lured in by crossovers of all sizes. The conveniences they offer can't be ignored. Just ask Ford. But BMW has made clear it's sticking with sedans, such as its benchmark 3 Series.

With the i4, BMW will finally have a direct rival against the Tesla Model 3 and, perhaps, the Model S to some degree. BMW has made no secret of the i4's upcoming arrival, previously releasing photos of an advanced prototype testing and even a pre-production example at the factory. Our own spy photographers have caught test mules testing on public roads in Spain.

All of that combined has allowed Future Cars Now on Instagram to create this highly accurate i4 rendering. Expect the vehicle that'll soon debut to look pretty much exactly like this, and we're not at all complaining. Think of the i4 as the pure battery-electric version of the also upcoming 4 Series Gran Coupe. Like the 4 Series Coupe and Convertible, both the i4 and Gran Coupe will sport the controversial new kidney grille design.

But unlike the GC, the i4 will probably sport electric door handles and a slightly altered front end because it lacks a radiator. At least three variants are expected, two rear-wheel-drive and one xDrive all-wheel drive.

To be competitive against the Model 3, the i4 is expected to boast around a 370-mile all-electric range on the WLTP cycle, though this translates to about 290 miles on EPA testing. The three expected variants are as follows: i435, i440, and i4 M50 with xDrive. The latter will definitely be the most powerful and more fun to drive but this will come at the cost of reduced range. For the time being, it looks like the i4 M50 will be the sole variant with AWD, though this could change.

BMW has not announced an official i4 debut date, but we expect it to happen around springtime when a few major international auto shows, specifically New York and Los Angeles, hope to be back in action after being canceled last year.