Two years ago, BMW hired a Boeing 777 cargo plane that painted with BMW Vision iNext livery to do a campaign for brand’s electrifying future. That plane travelled from Munich to New York, San Francisco and Beijing in just 5 days, and these destinations imply the primary market for BMW’s next-generation EVs. And now the car that been carried in the 777 turns in to a 500bhp electric flagship with 373-miles range, or we could call it the new era for BMW.
As Frank Weber, the BMW’s head of R&D says: the iX name was chosen to signify the new model’s positioning at the head of the company’s i line-up. In other words, iX can be described as simply as its name implies: it’s a crossover with a fully electric powertrain or Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) in BMW’s own terminology.
We don’t know the exact dimension of iX for now as BMW keen to keep that as a secret, but what we do know for sure is that the new EV has the outer length and width of the BMW X5, the height of the BMW X6 and the wheel dimensions of the BMW X7. The iX the same platforms as its existing petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid models, premiering a new aluminium space frame that supports an inner CFRP. And because of this highly-compatible architecture, the new car will be produced alongside the 5, 6, 7 and 8 Series models at its Dingolfing factory in Germany.
According to Munich head office, the iX represents a distinctive re-imagining of the powerful proportions of a large BMW SAV, and we’re able to see some of the design elements have been carried on from the Vision iNext. A large blanked-off grille, heavily chamfered wheel arches, largely unadorned flanks, frameless doors, fixed B-pillars, prominent rear hunches, a tapered glasshouse featuring an uncharacteristic-for-BMW C-pillar treatment, all interprets minimalist to the world. A series of aerodynamic developments contribute to a claimed drag coefficient of 0.25.
BMW’s traditional (but increasingly rare) corona light graphic has been replaced by a quartet of light bands in the upper part of the slim headlamp assemblies. Full-LED main beams are standard, though buyers will also be able to specify BMW’s Laser lights as an option. At the rear, the iX’s narrow tail lamps receive LED functionality as standard.
Inside, BMW has opted for high-quality materials that will surely test the experts at BMW Plant Dingolfing from the second half of 2021, when the iX goes into series production. Additionally, the brand goes for the lounge experience with newly developed seats which wrapped with new microfibre fabric that made of recycled plastics. And lots of natural light coming from the huge panoramic glass roof, and a new steering wheel that unfortunately reminds me of an Austin Allegro.
Luckily, it has regular dimensions, and the driver will look through it when reading out the info showcased by the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster – and only glance over it when checking up the BMW Head-Up Display projections. The other instrument cluster and the 14.9-inch infotainment screen form a bond through the BMW Curved Display, and both use the next-generation BMW Operating System.
BMW is readying a comprehensive range of connectivity and sensor functions for its new i model. “The iX has more than 20 times the computing power for data processing than the newest models in our current line-up,” says Weber. Included is over-the-air functionality via a 5G system and Level 3 autonomous driving technology. The onboard computer used by the new model is claimed to be able to process up to 30 gigabytes of data per second, and there are over 30 different lidars, ultrasonic and radar sensors as well as antennae used to arm its long list of driver assistance systems.
According to BMW, the total output of the iX will reach at least 500bhp – enough for a respectable sprint to 62 mph in less than five seconds. Energy efficiency is high on the list of goals, with calculations for less than 21 kWh per 62 miles (under WLTP cycle). Also, the gross energy content of the battery pack has been set at more than 100 kWh, that will offer a range of more than 373 miles.
The new charging system employed by the iX enables optional DC fast charging at up to 200kW, allowing the battery to be charged from 10 to 80 per cent of its capacity in under 40 minutes or, put another way, a 120km range in 10 mins. The standard charger, however, operates at just 11kW, which provides the same 10 to 80 per cent charge in a significantly longer 11 hours on a wall box.
The iX will go on sale in late 2021.
Keyword: A new chapter has been turned, as the BMW Vision iNEXT becomes the BMW iX