Now that the BMW i4 Concept is here, there’s really only one logical car to compare its design to — the Audi e-tron GT Concept. These two concept cars are very similar; both are electric sedan concepts, both are similarly sized, both have about 500-ish horsepower and both come from Bavarian brands. Okay, so that last one is a bit meaningless but still.
So because both of these cars are so similar, we thought we’d do a photo comparison to see which one is better looking. That’s about all we can compare, though, as Audi hasn’t really released any info on the e-tron GT, aside from really early conceptual specs. So we’ll just stick with the designs for now.
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Both cars are said to be very production-ready. So while each concept’s production-car version will obviously look far more normal, we can expect each production car to look a lot like its concept.
From the front, the BMW i4 Concept is far bolder and brasher than the Audi. Both have enormous “grilles” and sharp headlights but the e-tron GT is sleeker and a bit more subtle, if that’s possible. Personally, I prefer the Audi’s face to the Bimmers, but looks are subjective and both are very bold so I won’t declare one face better than the other just yet.
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Out back, I think the Audi e-tron GT is also better looking. I like the the i4 Concept’s dual diffusers but the taillights just don’t do it for me and the back end of the Bimmer seems a bit blah. While the rear light bar and taillights of the Audi looks really slick and futuristic. The way the e-tron’s C-pillar blends into the trunk and rear quarter panel also looks a bit better and is more pronounced.
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In profile, both are really good looking cars, with long, muscular styling. They’re each a bit different, though, with the e-tron GT looking a bit longer and a bit sleeker and the BMW i4 Concept looking a bit more muscular and athletic. So it’s a bit of a toss-up and I can understand arguments for each.
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Where the BMW i4 Concept certainly takes a victory is inside. While the interior of the Audi e-tron GT is very cool, with a slick, high-tech vibe, the i4 is far more interesting and creative. Its white/light grey/bronze color scheme icy-cool and its monster instrument panels look very futuristic. The e-tron GT looks modern on the inside but the i4 Concept looks downright sci-fi.
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Overall, I think if I had to choose between the two I’d go for the Audi e-tron GT, mostly because I like its front end better. I love the i4 Concept’s profile and interior but the e-tron looks great in those regards as well and its face and butt are nicer. So if it were my money, it’d be on the Audi. However, I can’t wait to see both production cars and revisit this comparison.
they work very hard to make it so ugly?
Those hips on the Audi, car looks very sporty, i’m unsure about the hood design however… while the BMW has a bloated high ass as on the 2GC … I hate how Audi drives but I’ll take their design on this gen… BMW got lost with the new tall kidneys and inflated asses this gen …
I’m hoping the electric Audi’s will handle better than their ICE vehicles. If they use the tri-motor design from the E-Tron S this Audi may actually be able to properly drift/oversteer rather than the typical Audi understeer.
When I saw the BMW this morning I thought it looked handsome. After seeing this comparison, the ETron has my vote. It looks so cleanly sculpted and muscular while the BMW looks busy and confused in it’s identity. For lack of a better word, the BMW looks too girly but that could be down to the paint color choice.
The Audi e-tron GT is now my last hope. I have totally lost interest in Bimmers, or should I say Beavers from now on? that grille will account for a lot of Teslas and e-tron GT sales, believe me. After developing the i4 concept over all these years, this is the best they could do? disappointing to say the least.
Whoa people you are so fast to read design from these new cars even when you didnt see it live and than make decisions.I dont understand this, these comments are in every article where they show new car.Never happened to you that when you saw some car for the first time you didnt like it but after some time of observing you start to fall in love?i bet it happened to everyone but bad thing is that they will not learn and next time they hate from the first minute they see it.
That E-Tron GT concept really is something. Hopefully it will look very good in production form, and maybe be more efficient than the Taycan which I believe the vehicle is based on (although could be wrong).
That e-tron is something else huh?
The e-Tron is good looking, but what’s with the front overhang? It’s enormous. The i4 isn’t as aggressive looking, but part of that is the color. Make it gray and drop the blue highlights (like the e-Tron) and you’d have something.
Audi looks better. Hands down. That said I would pick up the i4 over the e-tron with the expectation that BMW will be more refined. However, since both of these are vaporware and we’re not likely to see either this year, it’s pure speculation. (e-Tron is expected this year but Audi is still cutting teeth and managing production delays with the e-Tron SUV)
The Audi GT looks really nice, but the little issue there is that it is quite a bit like a Taycan with an Audi nose. If I were to choose, while the GT looks better than the i4 on the outside, I’d still take the i4.
Note that an i4 in black could ‘hide’ the nose…
Like with the X6 or X7 a lot of people on the internet seem to be very displeased with the design. That probably means it’s going to sell very well.
haha exactly
I really like this BMW. I don’t get the bad press at all. The rear is a bit high but it’s not a deal breaker. Knowing BMW, there’s a reason for that too.
No doubt I will chose the Audi.
Audi wins this, Audi wins the A3 vs. 1-series competition. What has happened? Audi used to be ugliest and dullest of the three (BMW, MB, Audi).
Everything (in car world) is going shit. I am considering very hard if I should just buy 2-3 old BMW’s and drive those. I am considering e46 M3 (manual) to be my fun car, e38 to be my long distance hauler and e90 335iX(or e91) to by my daily driver. Then the kilometers would distribute “evenly” and I could use those for 10 -15 years.
The E-Tron wins by a country mile. The i4 looks like something my dog dumped on the lawn.
Have you spoken to a vet about your dog’s behaviour?
Audi for me, BMW are taking this Grill thing to very dark places. The ETron GT is a much better resolved design its also been seen on the streets and it just looks right. The i4 has a bit of kids having a doodle about it back and certainly the front
I like the BMW. So much so I will buy one. It looks fantastic in my opinion and there’s no doubt it will be the best car in its class!
I think the Audi is aiming for Audi sales, to stop lost sales from Tesla.
I do agree BMW is aiming higher.
This side profile of the i4 is so beautiful, but the front grille doesn’t help the car.
The interior looks great too.
Will just have suck it up about the grill, changes are zero they’re going to change this.
They seem committed to an Ugly Cycle in design.
The i4, for me in a heartbeat.
( Except for that performance killing grill, which will hurt top end performance, and efficiency. )
BMW is reading from an alternate universe play book where the Ford Edsel had great sales. If these big ugly grills are popular in China, I hope the make up for the lost sales world wide.
It’s a big gamble.
In the last 2 quarters of 2019, Tesla model 3 accounted for more than 80% of its global sales. Over half of its annual sales of 370,000 units sold in 2019 are Model 3’s! The Model 3 is a BMW 3 series size sedan that has become the EV of choice for those markets looking for green vehicles!
This is BMW’s focus and the i4 is just the answer. Hence the reference of the Genesis 3er in the info commercial. The i4 is BMW trying to muscle some market share from Tesla and at this moment have no interest in this overpriced Audi e-tron.
i4 looks fantastic for what it is and I’m sure it will be a better car than the Tesla Model 3