With the culling of the combustion engine, BMW is still flexing the Motoren Werke in its name. After 50 years of M Performance, it’s time to see what the brand means in an era of electrification. The new 2023 BMW iX M60 is the most powerful pure electric performance car from the German automaker, making it the perfect test subject for this experience.
With half a century of M Sports history, not to mention two other configurations of the iX, it’s easy to quickly come up with expectations for this higher performance variant of the electric crossover. Like any other car in the BMW lineup, it’s natural to expect more power, more noise, and playful handling.
Somehow, it meets most of these lofty expectations. The new iX M60 is incredibly fast, boasting a maximum of 610 horsepower from its two electric motors, which allows it to blast off to 100 km/h in just over 3.5 seconds. It even has a top speed of 250 km/h, which is attained in an impressively short period of time, as experienced on the unrestricted highways around Berlin. Now, that peak only happens when launching, as you have just 532 hp and 749 lb-ft of torque when dawdling around town or on the highway. Of course, it’s plenty and asking for more is just being greedy.
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
The secret sauce
It achieves this level of performance with BMW’s new fifth-generation electric powertrain. The technical details are mind-boggling, but the gist is that these units feature brushed motors with an electrically excited rotor, a relatively unique approach to EV propulsion. As a result, those who buy EVs for their environmental impact will appreciate that there is a limited amount of rare-earth metals due to the lack of a permanent magnet. Secondly, for those that buy an EV for smooth, quiet, and incredible acceleration, this powertrain delivers exactly that even as the motor spins up to 15,464 rpm. In the iX M60, the motor features six phases, rather than the three in the other models, and dual power inverters.
The powertrain, including the battery, is both liquid- and oil-cooled, helping to ensure the vehicle withstands the demands of M Sports’ most critical fans, not to mention the cult following from the competition. The automaker claims that the powertrain doesn’t need extra maintenance or cleaning during its lifespan, but we’ll have to wait and see.
However, it has a reputation behind it: BMW has been working on electric cars since 1972, when an electric version of the 1602 emerged at the Munich Olympics to shuttle VIPs and act in support roles for events like the marathon.
Fortunately, BMW EVs have come a long way since then, evidenced by the sheer size of the battery used in the iX M60. Measuring in at 111.5 kWh, with 106.3 kWh usable by the vehicle, this is a hefty beast of a battery. The automaker expects about 450 km of range on the tough EPA testing cycle, and our experience suggested that estimate may even be a bit conservative in ideal weather and conditions.
The vehicle supports charging speeds up to about 200 kW, which means the appropriate DC fast charger can move the needle from 10 to 80 per cent in 35 minutes. An 11 kW/48A charger will take the battery from flat to full in a little over 10 hours, while lower-rated chargers will take a bit longer.
The M application
The M60 feels confident and sure from the moment you step on the accelerator. It can sprint to faster speeds at the flex of your foot, and the regenerative braking does a great job of recouping that energy back to the battery when you’re coasting. Despite the crossover size, I would say the straight-line performance of this iX is on par with some of the performance EV sedans out there.
But being an M-badged vehicle, an important element needs to be discussed: engagement and connection to the machine. Other cars with the “M” badge engage and appeal to the sense of speed through sounds and noise. Go through the catalogue of M3s and M5s for a taste of what kind of noise comes with the M brand.
With an electric car lacking an exhaust to tune, BMW turned to composer and curator Hans Zimmer to deliver an energetic soundscape of the future whenever you put your foot down. Bassy and rhythmic, the system makes the drive feel more immersive and cool, but if you want an EV for the serene soundless experience, you can disable it quickly through the infotainment system.
While the noises and acceleration of the iX M60 impress, the ride is smooth and comfortable, with just the slightest hint of road feel to give pilots a sense of grip. Active rear steering helps with that stable feel, and the vehicle also features two-axle air suspension to help the ride feel smooth. The steering is relatively light, and has a bit of a digital feel, as though some road feel is filtered out before it reaches your fingertips. This is perhaps the least M-like aspect of the vehicle, as the rest of the car feels sportier, while the ride is just stable and confident, rather than playful.
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
2023 BMW iX M60 Photo by Sami Haj-Assaad
High-end cabin, high-end price
That’s okay given the level of luxury that BMW can also deliver. The M60 cabin is almost identical to the cabin in other versions of the iX, which is to say it’s spacious, high-tech, and adorned with spectacular-feeling materials.
While the iX M60 looks more or less identical to any other iX, the M-branded model features bronze accents on the wheels and the badges help the M model stand apart from the more pedestrian versions. Gripes about the faux kidney grille are valid, but it looks a bit more elegant and tangible in person rather than in photos.
Electric performance cars will easily deliver in terms of acceleration thanks to the incredible torque they can put down. But using the motorsports brand on an EV seems like a risky proposition. The BMW iX M60 manages to fulfill its obligation of being a faster, more engaging electric vehicle, thanks to that impressive fifth-generation electric motor. With a starting price of $123,845, including the $2,095 freight and delivery charge, it’s clear that this will appeal to the most diehard early adopters and BMW fans. But with performance like this, it’s a great way to get shoppers into the showroom to check out the brand’s other electric offerings.
Keyword: First Drive: 2023 BMW iX M60