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BMW i4 earns surprising safety rating from the Euro NCAP

Credit: Euro NCAP/YouTube

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The all-electric BMW i4 sedan scored 4 stars out of 5 during its safety tests with the Euro NCAP, a surprising score for an all-electric vehicle.

The European NCAP agency crash tests vehicles in four categories; Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road User (Pedestrian/Cyclist), and Safety Assist. The BMW scored 87%, 87%, 71%, and 64% accordingly. In comparison, the most recent Tesla sedan tested by the agency was a Model 3 from 2019, which scored 96%, 86%, 74%, and 94%, respectively. The Model 3 was awarded a 5-Star Safety Rating by the Euro NCAP.

It is important to note that while it may be easy to pile on BMW, a 4/5 rating is still a good score. It is a score that still indicates that the i4 is a very safe car. And looking at the comments from the Euro NCAP, BMW earned praise for many of its innovative safety systems in the i4.

Electric cars already hold an advantage over many other vehicles on the road in terms of safety. They tend to have a low center of gravity due to their batteries being placed low to the ground (preventing easy rollovers). The batteries also often serve as an added structural system that provides extra reinforcement in case of a crash. EVs, much like the BMW i4, often have access to the newest forms of safety features as well.

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The BMW i4 lost points in a few key areas. For adult occupants, minor injuries were sustained to the torso of both front and back passengers. In the case of the front divers side collision, the driver sustained an injury to the torso while the front passenger was injured in the left leg. Finally, in the side collision crash test, the driver sustained a possible injury to the torso. The injuries remained minor.

In terms of child occupants, the i4 lost points because many areas of the vehicle were not designed for child occupants. Outside of the two back seat areas, there were no mounting points for car seats and the seatbelts were placed too high for small children to be safely secured. However, for children placed in the back, either in car seats or out, they were unharmed in the testing done.

The BMW lost more points in vulnerable road users and safety assists. For vulnerable road users, BMW equipped the i4 with its “active bonnet” system, which lifts the car when a pedestrian collision is detected. The car even uses an auto brake assist system that will engage if the vehicle senses it is about to hit a pedestrian or cyclist. However, for those who are hit by the vehicle, the Euro NCAP noted that “protection of the pelvis was largely poor.”

Furthermore, the i4 lost points for receiving a marginal grade in the emergency lane keeping test, as well as in the auto emergency brake assist test against other vehicles.

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The BMW i4’s test and others can be found on the Euro NCAP website.

Overall, the fact that the BMW i4 scored relatively lower than other EVs is still quite an achievement, as it is still far safer than many combustion-powered rivals. Yet another reason for people to be excited about electric vehicles in the future.

Watch the BMW i4’s safety tests with the Euro NCAP in the video below.

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What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com!

Will is an auto enthusiast, a gear head, and an EV enthusiast above all. From racing, to industry data, to the most advanced EV tech on earth, he now covers it at Teslarati.

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Cybertruck

Tesla confirms date when new Cybertruck trim will go up in price

Tesla has officially revealed that this price will only be available until February 28, as the company has placed a banner atop the Design Configurator on its website reflecting this.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has confirmed the date when its newest Cybertruck trim level will increase in price, after CEO Elon Musk noted that the All-Wheel-Drive configuration of the all-electric pickup would only be priced at its near-bargain level for ten days.

Last week, Tesla launched the All-Wheel-Drive configuration of the Cybertruck. Priced at $59,990, the Cybertruck featured many excellent features and has seemingly brought some demand to the pickup, which has been underwhelming in terms of sales figures over the past couple of years.

Tesla launches new Cybertruck trim with more features than ever for a low price

When Tesla launched it, many fans and current owners mulled the possibility of ordering it. However,  Musk came out and said just hours after launching the pickup that Tesla would only keep it at the $59,990 price level for ten days.

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What it would be priced at subsequently was totally dependent on how much demand Tesla felt for the new trim level, which is labeled as a “Dual Motor All-Wheel-Drive” configuration.

Tesla has officially revealed that this price will only be available until February 28, as the company has placed a banner atop the Design Configurator on its website reflecting this:

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Many fans and owners have criticized Tesla’s decision to unveil a trim this way, and then price it at something, only to change that price a few days later based on how well it sells.

It seems the most ideal increase in price would be somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000, but it truly depends on how many orders Tesla sees for this new trim level. The next step up in configuration is the Premium All-Wheel-Drive, which is priced at $79,990.

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The difference between the Dual Motor AWD Cybertruck and the Premium AWD configuration comes down to towing, interior quality, and general features. The base package is only capable of towing up to 7,500 pounds, while the Premium can handle 11,000 pounds. Additionally, the seats in the Premium build are Vegan Leather, while the base trim gets the textile seats.

It also has only 7 speakers compared to the 15 that the Premium trim has. Additionally, the base model does not have an adjustable ride height, although it does have a coil spring with an adaptive damping suspension package.

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Cybertruck

Tesla set to activate long-awaited Cybertruck feature

Tesla will officially activate the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature on Cybertruck soon, as the company has officially added the feature to its list of features by trim on its website.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla is set to activate a long-awaited Cybertruck feature, and no matter when you bought your all-electric pickup, it has the hardware capable of achieving what it is designed to do.

Tesla simply has to flip the switch, and it plans to do so in the near future.

Tesla will officially activate the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature on Cybertruck soon, according to Not a Tesla App, as the company has officially added the feature to its list of features by trim on its website.

Tesla rolls out Active Road Noise Reduction for new Model S and Model X

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The ANC feature suddenly appeared on the spec sheet for the Premium All-Wheel-Drive and Cyberbeast trims, which are the two configurations that have been delivered since November 2023.

However, those trims have both had the ANC disabled, and although they are found in the Model S and Model X, and are active in those vehicles, Tesla is planning to activate them.

In Tesla’s Service Toolbox, it wrote:

ANC software is not enabled on Cybertruck even though the hardware is installed.”

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Tesla has utilized an ANC system in the Model S and Model X since 2021. The system uses microphones embedded in the front seat headrests to detect low-frequency road noise entering the cabin. It then generates anti-noise through phase-inverted sound waves to cancel out or reduce that noise, creating quieter zones, particularly around the vehicle’s front occupants.

The Model S and Model X utilize six microphones to achieve this noise cancellation, while the Cybertruck has just four.

Tesla Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD estimated delivery slips to early fall 2026

As previously mentioned, this will be activated through a software update, as the hardware is already available within Cybertruck and can simply be activated at Tesla’s leisure.

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The delays in activating the system are likely due to Tesla Cybertruck’s unique design, which is unlike anything before. In the Model S and Model X, Tesla did not have to do too much, but the Cybertruck has heavier all-terrain tires and potentially issues from the aluminum castings that make up the vehicle’s chassis, which are probably presenting some challenges.

Unfortunately, this feature will not be available on the new Dual Motor All-Wheel-Drive configuration, which was released last week.

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Tesla Model S and X customization options begin to thin as their closure nears

Tesla’s Online Design Studio for both vehicles now shows the first color option to be listed as “Sold Out,” as Lunar Silver is officially no longer available for the Model S or Model X. This color is exclusive to these cars and not available on the Model S or Model X.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla Model S and Model X customization options are beginning to thin for the first time as the closure of the two “sentimental” vehicles nears.

We are officially seeing the first options disappear as Tesla begins to work toward ending production of the two cars and the options that are available to those vehicles specifically.

Tesla’s Online Design Studio for both vehicles now shows the first color option to be listed as “Sold Out,” as Lunar Silver is officially no longer available for the Model S or Model X. This color is exclusive to these cars and not available on the Model S or Model X.

Tesla is making way for the Optimus humanoid robot project at the Fremont Factory, where the Model S and Model X are produced. The two cars are low-volume models and do not contribute more than a few percent to Tesla’s yearly delivery figures.

With CEO Elon Musk confirming that the Model S and Model X would officially be phased out at the end of the quarter, some of the options are being thinned out.

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This is an expected move considering Tesla’s plans for the two vehicles, as it will make for an easier process of transitioning that portion of the Fremont plant to cater to Optimus manufacturing. Additionally, this is likely one of the least popular colors, and Tesla is choosing to only keep around what it is seeing routine demand for.

During the Q4 Earnings Call in January, Musk confirmed the end of the Model S and Model X:

“It is time to bring the Model S and Model X programs to an end with an honorable discharge. It is time to bring the S/X programs to an end. It’s part of our overall shift to an autonomous future.”

Fremont will now build one million Optimus units per year as production is ramped.

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