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BMW is serious about going electric. In recent years, they have expanded their line of plug-in hybrids and added mild hybrid technology to most of their cars. Now, they are taking it to a new level with their flagship electric crossover, the iX.
BMW not only got an X5 and incorporated an electric motor. The iX is a unique vehicle with its unique style, technology and electric motor. According to BMW, this crossover serves as a preview of things to come from the German automaker.
Statistics The iX’s two electric motors are good for 370 kW, which is about 500 PS. That gives this sizable crossover a 0-100km / h time of just 5.0 seconds, making it even faster than some performance cars. Not only that, BMW claims it can match internal combustion engine cars when it comes to range. They say the iX can drive more than 600 kilometers on a single charge, which is even more than some hybrid and diesel-powered vehicles.
One of the obstacles to electric vehicles is charging times, but BMW says the iX cuts it down significantly. With DC fast charging at 200 kW, the BMW iX battery will recharge from 10 to 80 percent of its full capacity in just 40 minutes. Stopping at a fast-charging station allows users to increase the car’s range by more than 120 kilometers in ten minutes. Furthermore, the iX batteries do not use rare earth materials. Therefore, it is not only a zero-emission vehicle, it is also built with the environment in mind.
Design-wise, it’s what we expect from modern BMWs with a large kidney-shaped grille. In this case, it is blank because it is an electric vehicle. Instead, that panel houses camera technology, radar functions and other sensors for semi-autonomous driving functions, as well as active safety functions. Of course, the characteristic BMW design details are present, from the “angel eyes”, the L-shaped taillights and the Hoffmeister Kink at the rear. And while it looks upright, the underfloor aerodynamics help this crossover have a drag coefficient of just 0.25 Cd.
But here’s a cool exterior feature of the iX. Since the large grille houses most of the sensors, the surface should not be scratched. So what they did was apply self-healing technology to the panel that can repair minor scratches in 24 hours at room temperature. That way, the sensors will work reliably for many years.
Inside, the iX features lounge seating. The flat floor, an advantage of electric cars, allowed designers to adopt these types of seats to have more space in the cabin. BMW took the minimalist approach to the iX, with the displays and controls molded into the panels.
The German automaker calls it the “tech shy” approach with its hidden out-of-sight speakers, flat panels, and intricately styled air vents. The only thing that stands out is the iDrive infotainment system, which also houses the instrument cluster. As for the rest of the cabin, it has some design details that we can expect in future models. These include the hex-shaped steering wheel and a rocker switch for gear selection.
While it has been revealed, production of the iX will begin in July 2021 for the 2022 model year. Europe will be the first market to do so, followed by the rest of the world in the coming years. Is there a possibility that it will land in the Philippines? If there was more support for EVs in the Philippines, we don’t see why not.
