BMW’s all-new, all-electric iX crossover will undercut its two German arch-rivals when it arrives later in 2021.
Set to arrive in the fourth quarter of this year, the 2022 BMW iX range will start at $135,900 before on-road costs.
That narrowly undercuts the Audi E-Tron ($137,100 list) and Mercedes-Benz EQC ($141,400 list).
Unlike those models, which are derived from internal combustion engine vehicles, the BMW iX will use a bespoke platform designed from scratch for all-electric vehicles.
It’ll be offered with a choice of three variants and two powertrains.
BMW has confirmed an even more powerful iX M60 variant with over 440kW of power will arrive at a later date.
All Australian-market iX models will come with a free, five-year unlimited usage subscription to the Chargefox network. The E-Tron has a free six-year subscription included.
The iX features adaptive energy recuperation, which uses data from the navigation system and the sensors of the driver assistance systems to alter the intensity of brake energy recuperation.
You can also manually toggle between low, medium or high regenerative braking settings. The highest provides you with one-pedal driving.
Out on the open road, the car will coast with no drive power whenever you ease off the accelerator.
BMW claims a drag coefficient of 0.25, identical to the new i4 M50.
The iX uses aluminum spaceframe construction and employs carbon fibre-reinforced plastic on the roof, rear and sides.
As on the new i4, there’s the new BMW Curved Display which puts the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen in one large assembly.
The touchscreen uses the latest generation of iDrive running BMW OS 8.0 and the navigation system features augmented reality and cloud-based maps.
There are two available interior design themes – Loft and Suite – plus three different trim choices: Stone Grey, Amido and Castanea.
There’s also a specially composed drive sound composed by Hans Zimmer, while the interior makes extensive use of recycled and natural materials.
These include floor coverings made from recycled fishing nets and leather tanned with olive leaf extracts.
Standard on the xDrive50 Sport and optional on other models is BMW’s largest panoramic glass roof ever, measuring one metre wide and two metres long and featuring an electrochromatic shade function.
Outside, the controversial grille incorporates numerous cameras and radar sensors and includes an in-built cleaning system and self-healing function for fixing light stone chips.
Pricing
- 2022 BMW iX xDrive40: $135,900
- 2022 BMW iX xDrive40 Sport: $141,900
- 2022 BMW iX xDrive 50 Sport: $169,900
All prices exclude on-road costs.
Powertrains
The all-electric 2022 BMW iX has a dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up, with 240kW of power and 630Nm of torque in the xDrive40 and 385kW of power and 765Nm of torque in the xDrive50.
The xDrive40 has a 77kWh battery while the xDrive50 has a 112kWh battery.
BMW claims a 6.1-second 0-100km/h time for the xDrive40 and a 4.6-second 0-100km/h time for the xDrive50.
Economy
The 2022 BMW iX has 425km of range in xDrive40 guise under the stricter WLTP test cycle, while the xDrive50 has 630km of range.
You can charge at up to 150kW in the xDrive40 and up to 200kW in the xDrive50. You can add more than 95km of range in 10 minutes at a DC fast charger and up to 150km in the xDrive50 with an initial battery charge of 10 per cent.
Dimensions
The 2022 BMW iX measures 4953mm long, 1967mm wide and 1696mm tall on a 3000mm wheelbase.
It has 500L of luggage space, expanding to 1750L with the rear seats folded.
Servicing and Warranty
All BMW models are covered by a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
BMW Australia has yet to confirm service pricing.
Safety
The 2022 BMW iX has yet to be tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.
All models come standard with the following safety equipment:
- Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection and junction assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-change assist
- Lane-keeping assist
- Front and rear cross-traffic assist
- Traffic sign recognition
- Safe exit warning
- Evasive steering assist
- Automatic speed limit assist
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- Front and rear parking sensors
Standard Equipment
The xDrive40 comes standard with the following equipment:
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- DAB+ digital radio
- Wireless phone charging
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Harman/Kardon sound system
- BMW Natural Interaction voice assistant
- Driving Assistant Professional
- 21-inch alloy wheels with non-runflat tyres
- LED headlights
- Ambient lighting
- Olive Leaf-tanned leather upholstery
- Four-zone climate control
- Heated front seats with massaging
- Comfort Access keyless entry and start
- Shadow Line exterior package
- BMW Iconic Sounds
- Charging cables – Mode 2 for domestic sockets, Mode 3 for public chargers
- Semi-autonomous parking assist
- Five-year, unlimited-usage Chargefox subscription
The xDrive40 Sport adds:
- 22-inch alloy wheels
- Metallic paint
- High-gloss black side sills
- Body colour front apron
- Dark-finish headlights and tail lights
- Sport brakes with blue callipers
The xDrive50 Sport adds:
- ‘Sky Lounge’ panoramic glass roof with electrochromatic shade function
- BMW Laserlight headlights
- Active steering
- Adaptive two-axle air suspension
- Soft-close doors
BMW will offer a range of option packages.
The Comfort Package, available on all models, costs $3500 and adds:
- Heated steering wheel
- Ventilated front seats
- Heat Comfort Package, which includes heated rear seats, a heated centre console armrest, and heating for the front and rear door panels and armrests and the lower section of the instrument panel
The Enhancement Package (xDrive40 and xDrive40 Sport) costs $9500 and adds:
- Soft-close doors
- ‘Sky Lounge’ panoramic glass roof with electrochromatic shade function
- BMW Laserlight headlights
The $8500 Indulgence Package, available on the xDrive40 Sport and xDrive50 Sport, adds:
- Interior camera
- 30-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system
Colours
The xDrive40 comes standard in Alpine White.
Metallic finishes are a $2000 option on the xDrive40 and standard on all other models, and include Black Sapphire, Sophisto Grey, Phytonic Blue and Blue Ridge Mountain.
Mineral White is available only on the xDrive40 Sport and xDrive50 Sport, which also can be specified with one of two $2600 BMW Individual metallic finishes: Storm Bay and Aventurine Red.
