The all-electric BMW i4 Gran Coupe is set to be discontinued from 2026 onward, following the arrival of the all-new, more technologically advanced i3 this week. This effectively brings the i4’s tenure to a close after a fruitful five-year run.Though not yet officially confirmed, BMW recently explained to CarBuzz that the newly-launched i3, the second model in the Bavarian brand’s Neue Klasse family, effectively makes the established i4 redundant. With the i3 set to go on sale for 2027, and for a rumored $53,000 USD, this leaves precious little room for the liftback i4, prices for which start almost $5K higher at $57,900. Why The Brand-New i3 Sedan Replaces The Outgoing i4 BMWOn top of that, the two BMW e-sedans are almost identically sized too. The i4 measures up to one inch longer, but the new i3 stands more than an inch taller and half an inch wider. The dual-motor setup on the i3 launch model, meanwhile – the all-wheel drive i3 50 xDrive – offers up 463 horsepower, 476 pound-feet of torque, and, crucially, an estimated 440 miles of all-electric range. That's because BMW's new Gen 6 electric motors and batteries boast 20% better energy efficiency than the older tech in the i4.Even the most frugal of the Gran Coupe models – the i4 eDrive40 – can manage ‘only’ an estimated 333 miles of range whilst producing 128 hp and 159 lb-ft less than the newcomer. The new i3 will even be built on the same production line at BMW’s Munich facility in Germany.BMWProduction of the i4 is believed to run until the end of 2026, five years after its launch, and four years after its arrival in North America. The i4, nevertheless, leaves behind a commendable sales record. Though sales dropped by 14% in 2025, the i4 was comfortably BMW’s best-selling all-electric model, with almost 8,000 more units sold over the iX SUV. Admittedly, this was way down on a record year for BMW M's SUV fleet. Plans For A New 4 Series Already In The Works? BMWTellingly, BMW would not be drawn on whether a full replacement for the i4 will be introduced down the line. Be it in coupe form, or with the current model’s hatchback trunk. Recent reports have heavily suggested, however, that a third generation 4 Series, one based on the newly-developed Neue Klasse architecture, will likely be introduced as a rakish alternative to the Neue Klasse 3 Series. In much the same way that the original 4 Series coupe slotted into BMW’s line-up back in 2013.Indeed, consistent sales for the 4 Series across two generations (the coupe outsold both the 2 Series and the mid-sized 5 Series across 2025) are believed to be among the key selling points for a new generation model. And since a new i4 will likely share the same chassis, drivetrain and very similar dimensions to the new i3, development costs would be much lower than those required for a brand-new, standalone model.BMWMoreover, with one of the 4 Series’ core rivals – the Audi A5 – having already been discontinued in coupe form, and with Mercedes-Benz having condensed its two-door coupe line-up into the mid-sized CLE (an AMG refresh of which is on the way), BMW has been given an open goal to monopolize the premium, two-door coupe market. Something that could be aided by a potent new M4, which has also been heavily speculated. Granted, such a beast is unlikely to arrive before production of the current G90 M4 ends in 2029.