The BMW iX also gets augmented reality navigation with a live feed of the road ahead is projected onto the display, with digital graphic overlays added to it, to help the driver navigate tricky areas. The steering wheel features several function keys allowing you to personalize onscreen options, as well as navigate the displays and toggle between menus and widgets. Backseat passengers also have access to some unique features, like USB-C ports embedded in the seats.

The BMW iX xDrive50 is the only iX variant currently on sale in America, so if you want one now, it’s your only choice. At $83,200, it’s priced about the same as the equivalent BMW X5 M50i. However, if you want to wait for the iX M60 performance variant, the price jumps up to $106,095, similar the X5 M. What do you get for your extra money? In terms of options, Adaptive Air Suspension is standard on the iX M60, while it’s an optional extra on the xDrive50. The M60 also gets 21″ wheels as-standard. Gesture Control and the Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system are also standard kit on the M60 but not on the xDrive50.

The video also goes over some hidden features and also how to use the BMW iX key fob, in case it runs out of battery. So let’s take a loo at this BMW iX demo video.

[Source: BMWBLOG]

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BMW says 6,930 vehicles (3,166 iXs and 3,764 i4s) are being recalled and brought into dealerships for a free software update. Both the BMW iX and i4 use the brand’s newest iDrive 8 system and they’re currently the only cars on sale to use them (and will be until the new 7 Series, i7, and X7 LCI debut). Both cars are incredibly important to the brand. They’re both the first of their kind for BMW: the iX is the brand’s first full-size electric SUV and the i4 is its first electric sports sedan. But it looks like some glitches are still being ironed out.

The BMW iX is a monster of an SUV, especially in its xDrive50-spec. With dual motors, making 516 horsepower, it’s far quicker than people might expect. And the i4 M50 is a fine car overall but damn it’s fast, thanks to its 536 horsepower from dual motors. Both cars are good to drive but I think the iX is more impressive, considering what it is. Hopefully these are the last of the recalls, so customers can enjoy their all-electric Bimmers.

Of course, with more and more electric cars coming on the road, and with more tech than ever, issues are bound to appear. Some of them might be even different than wha we currently experience in gasoline-powered cars. So for that reason, it’s always worth looking into a BMW Extended Warranty which also covers issues with electric cars.

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The Rivian R1S is the SUV version of the Rivian R1T pickup truck. While we haven’t driven the R1T just yet, we know several people who have and we’ve yet to hear a bad word about it. However, being a pickup truck, the R1T isn’t a competitor for any BMW to worry about. But the R1S is an SUV that’s very similar in size to the iX (the R1S is a few inches longer, wider, and taller), packs even more range, far more power, and is priced similarly, too.

The Rivian is slightly larger, has more interior space, has much more power (835 horsepower and 908 lb-ft of torque), is quicker to 60 mph, has a few more miles of range, looks better, is lightyears ahead of the iX off-road, and comes in at around the same price. But at the same time, the BMW iX has a lovely interior – luxurious, premium, and exciting.

The other advantage the iX has is its dealer network. So far, Rivian has had a difficult time meeting manufacturing demands, which isn’t uncommon for a new brand, but BMW is far better at doing so and its dealer network is vast. If you have a problem with a BMW, there’s a dealer nearby, with available parts, to quickly remedy any issue.

Without driving the Rivian R1S, I can’t say it’s a homerun win over the BMW iX. However, people we know and respect seem to think it’s sensational to drive and it certainly has the on-paper game to make the iX seem a bit pointless. So while we’ll have to get the two cars back-to-back to see which is better, one thing’s for certain: the Rivian R1S is going to be a big problem for every traditional premium brand building electric SUVs.

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The two cars on display were the BMW iX and i4. The former was a BMW iX xDrive50, the current top-of-the-line model and BMW’s best electric car. The BMW i4 M50 that as there was in San Remo Green, which is one of the hottest new BMW colors. There was also a BMW iX augmented reality experience, which allowed visitors to see how the iX’s kidney grille can repair itself from scratches. BMW also offers another unique experience: Digital Mosaic. Consumers will be asked to submit photos on-site and each photo will create a tile revealing a piece of the mosaic image. BMW will turn the mosaic into an NFT and one winner will – digitally – take that home.

There were a few other small stations, such as one where you could customize your own sustainable succulent, with “crystal toppings,” to take home. These Future Labs will continue to popup in Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Detroit, Columbus, St. Louis, and Kansas City. Though, multiple popup events will take place in Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit. If you’re in one of those cities and are interested in checking out BMW’s future electrified products, you might want to keep your eyes and ears peeled for when they pop up.

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Next up, the BMW i4 won Top Gear’s Best Electric Exec award. It seems that the BMW i4 gets praise for everything the 3 Series used to get praise for; sharp driving dynamics and powertrain, a simple but handsome and well-made cabin, and a silky smooth powertrain. The only complaint is that it doesn’t make a classic straight-six noise. Much has been said about the cost of the BMW i4, since its release. Surprisingly for a BMW, that talk has been positive. Despite its M3-conquering performance, the BMW i4 M50 is actually cheaper than its gasoline-powered sibling from the M Division. Even when it’s fully loaded, to its maximum possible spec, the BMW i4 M50 is still only about $2,000 more than the base-spec BMW M3 Competition xDrive.

In addition to the BMW iX and i4 receiving some awards from Top Gear, another electric BMW received an even bigger, more important award. The BMW i3 was given an EV Lifetime Achievement award. It’s nice to see the i3 get some recognition and, when TG explains why the i3 is still more spacious and lighter than the far newer Honda E.

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Being an M Performance variant, the BMW iX M60 is obviously quite a bit more powerful than the regular iX models, packing an M5-rivaling 610 horsepower and a planet-churning 811 lb-ft (1,100 Nm) of torque. Admittedly, both of those figures are only available for a short period of time, when Launch Control is engaged.

Otherwise, under all normal circumstances, the BMW iX M60 makes 532 horsepower and 749 lb-ft (1,016 Nm). However, during launch control the iX M60 is capable of 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds. Top speed is electronically-limited to 155 mph, like most other BMWs.

The iX M60 is expected to deliver a range of up to 280 miles (preliminary EPA estimate). It’s also important to note that the 280 mile range is with 21″ wheels and BMW doesn’t have a figure for the optional 22″ wheels.

Visually, there’s little differentiation between the iX models, though that’s not unusual with M Performance cars. The main visual cues between the iX M60 and the standard models are the 22″ black wheels, the optional Titanium Bronze finish, and the big blue brake calipers. The “M60” badge is also finished in gloss black with Titanium Bronze trim.

The BMW iX M60 carries a base MSRP of $105,100 plus $995 destination and handling. If you want a high-performance SUV, akin to the X5 M Competition, but don’t want the moral burden of burning so much fuel, then the iX M60 is absolutely worth the money.

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In this new video from Carwow, we get to see all three German electric SUVs go head-to-head-to-head to see which is has the best range, the best performance, the best interior tech, and the best cargo space. Sorry, Tesla fans, no whoopee cushion tests here.

The specific versions of each car in this test are as follows; BMW iX xDrive50, Audi e-tron S Sportback, and Mercedes-Benz EQC 400. All three are about the same size but their specs vary a bit. In terms of usable battery capacity, the BMW iX has the most with 105 kWh, followed by the Audi with 87 kWh, with the Mercedes coming in last with 80 kWh. Their claimed ranges follow suit, with the BMW iX having a WLTP-rated range of 392 miles, the Mercedes having 255 mile, and the e-tron coming in last with 235 miles.

To test their efficiency, Carwow’s Mat Watons drove each car on a closed circuit, to see how many miles per kWh each car achieved. Then, he multiplied that figure by their usable battery capacities to find out how many miles each car could go on a single charge. This test was done both at highway speeds and at around town speeds, the latter of which featured typical around-town obstacles, such as stop signs and speed bumps. Admittedly, this test is a bit unfair to the e-tron S Sportback, as it’s the extra powerful tri-motor car, so it’s never going to be as efficient as the other two.

During all of those tests, Watson also tested each car’s ride comfort, interior noise, and driving enjoyment. Afterwards, he tested their interiors, technology, and practicality. The BMW iX is a very interesting and impressive car in many ways but falls down a bit in others. If you want to see which is best, watch the video below.

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First, what’s shocking is the sheer percentage of EV sales in Norway, where 6,659 of its 7,959 new cars sold in the month of January were electric. That’s a whopping 83.7 percent of all new cars sold last month, proving that Norwegians are the most EV-loving people in the world. Of those 6,659 EVs sold in Norway last month, 444 of them were BMW iXs. Considering how new and expensive the iX is, that’s great news for BMW.

The only two EVs to sell more than the BMW iX in Norway were the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Audi Q4 e-tron, both of which are cheaper than the iX. While Norway isn’t always the best judge of an EVs popularity, as all EVs are popular there, it seems as if the iX’s funky looks haven’t been too much of a downer for customers. We reckon the iX will sell well across the globe, too, as its fantastic interior, interesting tech, and impressive drive are sure to win over some customers.

At the moment, the BMW iX is only offered in two flavors; the xDrive40 and the xDrive50. The former uses a smaller battery (76.6 kWh) and gets a smaller range (260 miles), while the latter gets a bigger battery (111.5 kWh) and a further range (310 miles). There is going to be a high-performance model on the way, the BMW iX M60, which will make 610 horsepower and an astonishing 811 lb-ft of torque, but that’s not on sale just yet.

It’s encouraging to see the BMW iX start off well on the sales sheet, even if it is in Norway, where most EVs sell well. It will be interesting to see how the iX sells in a less EV-friendly country, like the US, but it’s looking good for BMW.

[Source: Car Scoops]

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Price

The BMW iX xDrive50 is the only iX variant currently on sale in America, so if you want one now, it’s your only choice. At $83,200, it’s priced about the same as the equivalent BMW X5 M50i. However, if you want to wait for the iX M60 performance variant, the price jumps up to $106,095, similar the X5 M. What do you get for your extra money? In terms of options, Adaptive Air Suspension is standard on the iX M60, while it’s an optional extra on the xDrive50. The M60 also gets 21″ wheels as-standard. Gesture Control and the Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system are also standard kit on the M60 but not on the xDrive50.

Power and Performance

What you’re getting for your extra money, in the iX M60, is added power and performance. Both cars use dual electric motors, one at each axle, powered by the same battery pack, but the iX M60 is far more powerful. The standard BMW iX xDrive50 makes 516 horsepower and 564 lb-ft of torque, while the more expensive M60 makes 610 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of torque.

According to BMW, the iX xDrive50 takes 4.4 seconds to get from 0-60 mph, which is downright leisurely compared to the M60’s time of 3.6 seconds. So if it’s speed you’re after, the BMW iX M60 delivers it like a proper M car.

Range

All of that added power does come at a price (aside from the, erm… price). For the BMW iX M60, range drops to 280 miles, from the ix Drive50’s 324 EPA-rated miles. Thirty miles might not be a ton but it’s enough to ruin a road trip or two. So if you want the longest range possible, the iX xDrive50 is for you.

Is the BMW iX M60 Worth the Extra Money?

That really depends on what you want. If you want a high-performance SUV, akin to the X5 M Competition, but don’t want the moral burden of burning so much fuel, then the iX M60 is absolutely worth the money. However, if you’re just looking for a good EV SUV, the iX xDrive50 offers almost all of the same luxury and technology at a much lower price, while boasting less range. So, unless performance is your main priority, the iX Drive50 is probably the better deal.

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How is that possible? Well, the all-wheel-drive-only luxobarge comes with a pair of electric motors providing a combined output of 610 horsepower (455 kilowatts). It’s not enough to take the crown for the most powerful BMW ever from the 627-hp M5 CS, but far more impressive than the hp figure is the torque delivered by the two motors.

You’d better sit down for this one because the iX M60 pumps out 1,015 Newton-meters (almost 750 pound-feet) or as much as 1,100 Nm (nearly 810 lb-ft) in Sport Mode with the launch control activated. However, we should point out the maximum power is only available for up to 10 seconds, after which the electric motors are dialed back down to the original output.

As far as range is concerned, it comes as no surprise the M60 is not as thrifty as the non-M versions of the zero-emissions SUVs. According to BMW’s own estimates, it should do anywhere between 499 to 566 kilometers (310 to 351 miles) based on the WLTP cycle courtesy of its standard 111.5-kWh battery pack. For the sake of comparison, the xDrive50 can cover up to 630 km (391 miles) on a single charge per WLTP.

Once the battery is running low, you can charge it 200 kW, in which case it can be replenished from 10% to 80% in 35 minutes. Using a DC fast-charging station will result in 93 miles (150 kilometers) of range within 10 minutes, provided the battery’s state of charge (SOC) is at a minimum of 10%.

Even though it’s a big and bulky SUV, the drag coefficient is a relatively low 0.26 as long as the vehicle is in the aforementioned Sport Mode. It doesn’t look all that different compared to the standard iX since the changes are limited to blue calipers for the upgraded M brakes, optional 22-inch aero wheels with a Titanium Bronze look, and black M badges with a bronze contour to mirror the XM Concept.

Another important feature is the implementation of air suspension on both axles, complete with electronically controlled shock absorbers. The engineers have also added rear-wheel steering to lower the turning circle and make the iX M60 a bit more agile while being pushed hard through the corners.

BMW will showcase its fastest electric vehicle ever on January 5 at CES in Las Vegas where it will also present a futuristic in-car entertainment system along with new tech for changing the body color of a vehicle. The global rollout of the M-branded electric SUV is scheduled to commence in June.

Source: BMW

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