The first-ever BMW iX, now in its final phase of development, will arrive in Australia in the fourth quarter this year. Two models will be imported, the iX xDrive40 and BMW iX xDrive50.
BMW tells us, “Development and production of the BMW iX follow an all-encompassing approach to sustainability involving compliance with strict environmental and social standards in the extraction of raw materials, as well as the use of electricity from renewable sources and a high proportion of recycled materials.”
On both models there’s one electric motor on the front axle and another at the rear axle. In the BMW iX xDrive50 they produce a total output of more than 370kW and provide a zero to 100km/h in less than 5.0 seconds.
The BMW iX xDrive40 has an output of 240kW. With zero to 100km/h in approximately 6.0 seconds.
The electric motor, transmission and power electronics are in an integrated package within a single housing.
Electric power consumption in the WLTP cycle of less than 21kWh per 100 kilometres for the BMW iX xDrive50 and less than 20kWh per 100 kilometres for the BMW iX xDrive40.
The BMW iX xDrive50 is fitted with a battery carrying a gross energy content of more than 100kWh, while the battery unit for the BMW iX xDrive40 has a gross energy content of more than 70kWh.
This provides the BMW iX xDrive50 a range in excess of 600 kilometres in the WLTP test cycle. The WLTP-calculated range of the BMW iX xDrive40 meanwhile is more than 400 kilometres.
The BMW iX enables DC (direct current) fast charging with extremely high charging power. The BMW iX xDrive50 can replenish its high-voltage battery at up to 200kW, while the maximum charging capacity of the BMW iX xDrive40 is 150kW.
A 10-minute plug-in time provides sufficient energy to add more than 120 kilometres and 90 kilometres of range respectively. In both model variants, the high-voltage battery’s charge can be increased from 10 to 80 per cent of its full capacity in less than 40 minutes.
BMW points out that all figures relating to performance, energy consumption and range are predicted values based on the car’s current stage of development.
We will follow these vehicles closely as they progress through the final phases of development and provide further information when it’s published by BMW.
