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New BMW iX: the EV for petrolheads
New BMW iX: the EV for petrolheads

Yahoo

time22-05-2025

  • Automotive
  • Yahoo

New BMW iX: the EV for petrolheads

In some ways, the iX was ahead of its time. Launched in 2021 into a then niche segment stretching from 4.5 to 5.0 metres long where only wanted the Model Y was in high demand, it was overlooked by many. High pricing didn't help matters but even so, sales were good, though not great. BMW stated in March that 'over 130,000' had been sold. For something so long (4,965 mm), wide (1,970) and expensive that's quite the achievement. A BMW SUV which is made in Spartanburg How the world has changed. The Model Y crashed out of the Europe-wide top 50 best selling vehicles list last month. Also, it's been a long time since Tesla launched a new mainstream vehicle and even if it did, would buyers line-up to buy one? What were once non-premium brands have crowded in to all EV segments while BMW is now so mainstream that it's regularly a top-three name in many major markets. That includes Germany (No.2 in April), the UK (No.2 YtD) and even South Korea (No.4, behind Genesis and way ahead of Mercedes, Renault, KGM, Tesla and Chevy, in that order). A BMW Sports Activity Vehicle built in Spartanburg Announced to the media in January and made available for journalists and others to drive a few days ago (global media all came to The Cotswolds, a magical place in May), the updated iX reaches Britain soon. Unusually for a BMW SAV X model, this one is made in Lower Bavaria rather than South Carolina. The Dingolfing plant produced the first series production examples in March, now followed by RHD build. Previously the line-up consisted of the xDrive40, xDrive50 and M60. The new numbers are 45, 60 and M70. Net battery capacities are variously 94.8, 109.1 and 108.9 kWh with power and torque also up. The cells chemistry is lithium-ion. Though not every market will take all three variants, the UK again receives the entire line-up: the 45 and 60 will be available very soon, to be followed by the 70. First BMW EV with a range above 400 miles Range also rises, this by 'around' 34 miles, says BMW. Under WLTP norms, this is an official minimum of 321 and a maximum of 426. As my time with the cars was limited, these figures couldn't be verified though there is no reason to believe 330-380 would not be a reasonable expectation, winter conditions included. The base car, if we can call any vehicle which costs GBP74,315 that, has outputs of 300 kW (408 PS) and 700Nm. This is the Sport model grade and there is an M Sport too, costing exactly three thousand pounds more. In one xDrive45 M Sport I spent about an hour with, a digital indicator showed 97% of charge being 317 miles. Above the 45s, there are two big steps up in power and pricing to the GBP93,115 xDrive60 M Sport (400 kW/544 PS with 765 Nm) and GBP114,215 M70 xDrive (485 kW/659 PS with 1,015 Nm or 1,100 with Launch Control). Top speed for the M70 is 155 mph but the others are limited to 124. Along with four-wheel drive and one motor on each axle, a single-speed transmission features for every iX. Far less weighty than an EX90 Excessive weight is almost always an issue with EVs and this vehicle is no exception to that general rule. BMW quotes the lightest variant as being 2,450 kg DIN with the M70 adding another 130 kilos (unlike some competitors the iX has only two rows of seats though). All that torque means it will rocket to 62 mph in only 3.8 seconds which compares to 5.1 for the 45 Sport/M Sport and 4.6 for the xDrive60. Sadly, the 70 was static display only as UK market cars are not yet ready. One clever feature which helps to mitigate against all that mass is what's called a 'Max Range' function. Activated by the driver ahead of the next charge, this can extend remaining range by as much as 25 per cent. Other go-further features include adaptive recuperation, lower-friction wheel bearings and tyres which have an A+ rating for low rolling resistance. DC charging is now at up to 195 kW though that's only for the 60 and M70, the 45's maximum input being 175. Has the facelift transformed the controversial looks? I didn't mind how the original iX looked but it wasn't my favourite BMW. The changes made to the front end have, to me, greatly improved the overall appearance. New wheels help too. And while no EV needs a radiator grille, this one has an interesting assortment of patterns, one of which isn't dissimilar to that of the also just-facelifted Volvo XC90. The iX however, takes things further when it comes to customisation, BMW's so-called 'Iconic Glow' illumination being a new option (standard on M70). These two lines which frame the mock-grille pulse as you lock/unlock and light up whilst the car is moving. Brilliant new puncture 'solution' Headlights and tail lights are also part of the update and these too, along with the reprofiled bumpers, really help to make the model appear less bulbous, even almost sleek. The fresh wheel designs are either 22-inch or even 23-inches. These alone go a long way to giving the iX an especially purposeful stance. And this being a BMW, the giant rims somehow don't ruin comfort, nor is the steering anything other than a model of precision. I asked product manager James Costin why the Hankooks did not have the words Run Flat on them. Nor could I find a puncture repair kit in the well below the boot floor where all cables and a first aid kit were stored. Apparently I was the first journalist to notice (small personal thrill this being an international launch) and so he ushered me towards a black plastic disc - it looks a bit like a drone - sitting in that same well. Manufactured in China by or on behalf of Tier 1 supplier Active Tools GmbH, this gadget - 'Active Seal' - inflates a flat tyre in seconds. Even me, who continues to be outraged that OEMs hardly even offer a spare tyre as a you-must-pay option, can see that this is a better idea. Push it onto the wheel centre, screw a bike pump-like flex onto the valve and whoosh…in goes 300 ml of sealant. Done. It's attached by powerful magnets and is designed to be removed by a BMW dealer (you can drive at up to 200 km/h). Unfortunately, it's a throw-away product. Yes, all that black plastic and invisible parts. But overall, quite the innovation. It's not only the iX which now comes with Active Seal; it's available for other BMWs and Minis and apparently BMW AG has a six-months exclusive deal. This product and others like it will save lives, guaranteed. So next time you see a car with extra narrow-diameter holes in its wheels - where magnetic spikes slide in to lock on - you'll know it has one of these gadgets. How does BMW get ADAS right and others don't? Other things I love about the updated version of this big electric SUV are how far it will go on a single charge, as well as the sports car-like levels of steering and road holding excellence. Ride comfort is similarly outstanding. And what a total joy to never once have been menaced by any ADAS in either of the iXs which I drove. Recently, at the wheel of the new MG S5 (and on a private track), I was startled by an electronic harridan. Shouting at me for exceeding the speed limit. By a few miles per hour. What a contrast to how BMW does things, equally compliant with relevant laws. Something I strongly dislike about the iX and I hope will in future be abolished by all car makers: electric door switches. In the BMW the mechanical safety catches are almost impossible to see, positioned low though at least they feature on every door. As an owner I would show any passenger before we set off how to get out of the car should there be a collision. Please all relevant OEMs, push back against such supplier 'innovations' and give us what did not need to be changed: a real latch. Who on earth wants an electric button, power to which could be automatically cut after a collision, potentially causing a death-trap? Conclusion With BMW naming not only Germany and the US but the UK as 'key' markets for the iX (China isn't even mentioned), a smooth sales launch for this updated model is vital. Luxury level electric SUVs tend to be very expensive - just look at what Volvo hopes people will be willing to pay for the new EX90 - and there is now far more competition than when this refreshed BMW was new. Other rivals are coming too. High pricing aside, the iX has been greatly improved in many ways, it also looks a lot better, and the allure of the BMW brand should never be underestimated. Might this become one of those relatively rare models which are even more successful during the second half of their life cycles? High-end e-SUVs are ever more visible on our roads so perhaps this one is about to find ever greater ascendancy. I hope it does; it's an excellent car which makes a very Star Wars sound when driven with enthusiasm), goes incredibly fast and handles brilliantly. "New BMW iX: the EV for petrolheads" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

The 2026 BMW iX is a best-case-scenario EV
The 2026 BMW iX is a best-case-scenario EV

The Verge

time13-05-2025

  • Automotive
  • The Verge

The 2026 BMW iX is a best-case-scenario EV

BMW has been on a roll lately, selling more EVs in North America than most of its competitors, including fellow luxury brands like Mercedes and Audi. But while most of the automaker's lineup is soaring, its flagship iX SUV has been struggling to find an audience. BMW only sold 15,383 iX vehicles in 2024, down 11 percent year over year. Sales numbers ticked up slightly in the first quarter, but after being on the market since 2022, the iX is in need of an upgrade. With those struggles in mind, BMW announced the refreshed 2026 iX earlier this year, which takes a lot of the best parts of the electric SUV and dials them up a notch. The battery is slightly larger, the range is longer, the tech is flashier, the interior is more luxurious, and the kidney grille is even more in your face than ever before. This bucktooted SUV is so happy to be getting a makeover that it's positively grinning from ear to ear. I got a chance to drive the updated iX — once on a media drive through upstate New York and then again over a weekend in suburban New Jersey — and it's clear that it remains a near-perfect luxury EV with some noteworthy downsides. The battery is slightly larger, the range is longer, the tech is flashier BMW has refined the driving experience with improved suspension and enhanced chassis control systems, which addresses some complaints about the stiffness of the iX's drive quality. It broadened the model family to include a more affordable option and tweaked the design to give it a more aggressive and beguiling stance. The headlights are sleeker and better integrated into the front end. And the performance capabilities have been tuned up with more power and response. But there are some tradeoffs. The operating system remains mostly cluttered and forgettable (most owners are likely to opt for phone projection). And there were some build quality issues that left me wondering how they got past quality control. But overall, the iX retains its status as the luxury EV that I end up recommending the most. Spec bump The two existing variants of the iX are getting new names that befit their new power and range capabilities. And there's an entry level model joining the family, as BMW seeks to make the iX accessible to a broader range of buyers. The previous base model, the xDrive50, now becomes the xDrive60, with a slightly bigger battery (113 kWh gross over 111.5 kWh), more horsepower (536 hp, as compared to the xDrive50's 516 hp), and more range (EPA-estimated 364 miles over the previous gen's 304 miles). BMW is suggesting a starting price of $89,675 (including a $1,175 destination charge), as compared to the xDrive50's starting price of $88,425. The M60 now becomes the M70 xDrive, with 650 hp (up from the M60's 610 hp), a 113 kWh battery (gross), 303 miles of EPA-estimated range, and a starting price of $112,675 (also including the destination fee). BMW is also introducing a new entry-level variant, the xDrive45, which starts at $76,325, including the destination fee. BMW felt it was important that every model in the iX family would have at least 300 miles of range and 400 hp. So with that in mind, the new entry level trim has 312 miles of estimated range, thanks to a 100 kWh battery and 402 hp. Improved design I'm not the biggest fan of the iX's toothsome appearance, and the changes to the vehicle's distinctive grille are sure to be fiercely debated across BMW-themed blogs and Reddit threads. It's truly a massive thing to behold in person, and maybe is one of the most polarizing design choices across the EV industry — including the Tesla Cybertruck. And for the 2026 model year, the grille is now illuminated, making it even more in your face and difficult to ignore than ever before. BMW has also included horizontal slates across the grille to make it look more like a traditional internal combustion engine front. The overall look is cleaner and more structured, but no less divisive. The headlights are also slimmer, and their vertical LED signature aligns the iX with BMW's upcoming Neue Klasse models. The interior is mostly the same as the previous model year, including the same curving screen and sharp, detailed graphics. I found the display to be a little overwhelming, to the point where most drivers are likely to opt for the familiarity of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto (both of which are available wirelessly). The clear winner I got to test out all three, and initially, I thought the M70 was the clear winner. Even though I didn't get too many straight lines to truly test out the improved horsepower, the vehicle's low ground clearance and low center of gravity helps contribute to a more stable stance on the road. Still, the added weight becomes apparent in sharp corners and during braking, diminishing the agility typically associated with BMW's M-badged vehicles. The air suspension system helps maintain composure over potholes and cracks in the road, and allows for adjustable ground clearance — though the lack of intermediate settings is limiting. The new front bumper now includes air vents for improved aero, and the option to swap in 21-, 22-, or 23-inch wheels make for a grab bag of options for those who put a lot of stock in that M-badge. Initially, I thought the M70 was the clear winner Now, I drive a lot of EVs — about three a month on average. I drive on twisty mountain roads, gravely rural passes, and congested city streets. And I typically have an iron stomach in most scenarios. But for whatever reason, the iX made me sick as a dog, so much so that I missed most of the drive event in upstate New York this month. (I blame the new medication I was on.) BMW graciously gave me more seat time to complete my testing, which passed without a hitch. Even my car sick-prone children had no complaints. You can tell that BMW's engineers took the criticisms about stiffness to heart when using the improved Comfort mode. But in Sport mode, the M70 corners better than before, with improved body control that makes it feel more composed on a twisty road. But it's really the all-new xDrive45 that's the true game changer for BMW. As the new most affordable EV in the automaker's lineup, the xDrive45 will certainly help BMW bring in new customers — and for good measure. The range is spot on, the features are luxurious without being excessive, and the ride was refined and elegant. It's the rare base model EV that doesn't leave you feeling like you're selling yourself short.

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