BMW iX is the first electric SUV that was originally designed as an electric vehicle by the German carmaker. They call it an electric SAV, a term that refers to the Sport Activity Vehicle concept. It has three drivetrain options, xDrive 40, xDrive 50, and the sportier version M60. BMW iX comes with an all-wheel-drive dual-motor system that produces up to 600 horsepower, 765 Nm torque, offers 200 km/h (~124 mph) top speed. There are two battery options for the iX, one with 71 kWh, the other with 105.2 kWh capacity. It can travel up to 630 kilometers (390 miles) on a single charge.
BMW iX is currently being manufactured in Dingolfing, Germany; it will be available to order later in 2021. It will also be the first electric SUV that BMW will import to the United States. The price of the iX will start from €77,300, more powerful, and higher range version xDrive 50 will of course cost more.
BMW iX Performance
Base model BMW iX xDrive 40 comes with two electric motors delivering 326 HP, 630 Nm torque, 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds. It has the smallest battery option available for the iX. With its 71-kWh battery, xDrive 40 offers a range of 425 kilometers when the battery is full.
The more powerful version, the iX xDrive 50 offers 523 HP, 765 Nm torque, and a big 105.2 kWh battery pack. 0-100 km/h acceleration in 4.6 seconds and top speed is the same as the base model, electronically limited to 200 km/h.
BMW will also unveil a sporty version of the vehicle called BMW iX M60 which will carry the M Performance badge. M60 will produce more than 600 horsepower and it will go from 0 to 100 km/h in less than four seconds.
Design and Features
BMW uses a very different ‘kidney grille’ on this electric vehicle. The fully closed front end is wrapped with a unique digital pattern that looks three-dimensional. LED headlights are narrower and taillights even slimmer than any other BMW car.
The hood of the iX does not open, so no frunk to see over there. One of the quirkiest features of the car is that the front BMW logo can be opened and used to fill up windshield water, as there is no hood area to put necessary stuff like this one.
It is the first BMW SUV that comes with frameless door windows which overall create a sporty vibe around the design. Very uniquely crafted door handles also carry that vibe. When you use Tesla’s or other hidden-type door handles, in order to open the door, you have to push one side and the other side will pop up, and then you hold on to that part to open the door. The Chinese designer of the iX made use of a much simple door handle mechanism. It looks flat, but you don’t have to push or pull things, just approach your fingers below the slim opening of the handle and the door will open.
On the interior, there is a curved panel sitting beneath the hexagonal-shaped steering wheel that houses a digital gauge cluster and infotainment system. Screen sizes are 12.3 and 14.9-inches respectively. It sure looks much more technological than the iX’s little brother BMW iX3.
iX also comes with Bowers & Wilkins sound system which packs a total of 30 speakers around the interior. The sound experience is beyond any BMW car available right now, and as all of the engine sounds composed by the famous Hans Zimmer, driving the car will be a joy to your ears.
BMW iX Range and Charging
BMW uses two different battery packs for this electric SAV. iX xDrive 40 version has a 71-kWh battery, xDrive 50 and M60 on the other hand will take advantage of a much bigger 105.2-kWh battery pack.
DC charging speed also vary depending on which iX version you get. xDrive 40 supports 150 kW DC charging, 10-80 percent in 31 minutes. xDrive 50 and M60’s DC charging rate will reach up to 200 kW. From 10 percent charge to 80% will take 35 minutes, as they use a bigger battery than the base model.
