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 the Model Y was in high demand, it was overlooked by many. Steep pricing didn’t help matters; sales were good, 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 not made in Spartanburg
How the world has changed. Number one not too long ago, 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 get one? Ergo, a big opportunity for other electric SUVs has appeared in recent months.
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 Sports Activity Vehicle not 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, this one is manufactured 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, 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. Above Sport is M Sport. This has the same power and torque but costs another three thousand pounds. One xDrive45 M Sport I spent about an hour with showed 317 miles remaining, equivalent to 97% of charge. Or so the digital read-out reckoned.
There are two big steps in power and pricing from the pair of 45s 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). Activate Launch Control and torque shoots up to an incredible 1,100 Nm. How on earth do the wheels not turn inside the tyres?
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 dislike the original iX 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. And while no EV needs a radiator grille, this one has an interesting assortment of model grade specific 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. They also light up whilst the car is moving.
Brilliant new puncture 'solution'
Naturally, fresh headlights and tail lights are 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 new 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 get you off the side of the road ASAP. It could even be life-saving. 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, I was startled by an electronic harridan. Shouting at me for exceeding the speed limit. By a few miles per hour. Whilst on a private testing track. 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 while having soft lighting behind them, are almost impossible to see, positioned low. At least they feature on every door unlike in a couple of EVs I could name. 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 goes incredibly fast and handles brilliantly. Oh, and there is a very Star Wars sound when you drive with enthusiasm. The iX is so good it could almost lure me away from all the excitement and convenience of petrol or diesel power. Come the 2030s and genuine carbon neutrality, an EVs-only future might be a great thing.
