Does the BMW iX Have Enough Grit to Beat Tesla’s Model X?
BMW iX all-electric SUV has made its global debut, and the Bavarian car manufacturer has done an excellent job of turning its iNEXT concept into reality.
Tesla became the world’s most valuable automaker by adopting electrification and introducing models from the most popular segments in the market. Now mainstream car manufacturers around the world are diligently working on developing their very own battery-powered crossovers and SUVs. The latest addition to the electric-only SUV club is the BMW iX EV.
The design of the BMW iX electric-only SUV is quite similar to the stylings of the Vision iNEXT concept that the Bavarian car manufacturer unveiled back in 2018 at the Paris motor show. The SUV’s blacked-out B-pillars give its roof a floating design, and the sleek headlight and taillamp units bear a striking resemblance to the ones we saw on the iNEXT concept. The front-end of the electric-only SUV is dominated by a large faux kidney grille which is part of BMW’s current design language. The polarizing design of the grille is similar to the ones we find on the BMW M3 and M4 sedans.
Inside the cabin, BMW iX is offered in a 5-seat configuration even though the SUV is the same size as the outgoing BMW X5 model. Other design highlights of the cabin include a hexagonal steering wheel and a large curved display that stretches across the dashboard. The iX also comes equipped with 5G capability, and the car’s infotainment system runs on BMW’s next-generation operating system.
The all-electric iX is powered by a 113 kWh battery pack that will offer around 300 miles of driving range. BMW iX gets a dual-motor setup that also bestows the SUV with all-wheel-drive. According to BMW, the battery-powered drivetrain of the iX EV will produce around 500 HP of maximum power, thereby enabling the SUV to accelerate to 60 MPH from a complete standstill in under 5 seconds.
BMW iX also gets 200 kWh rapid-charging capability that can recharge the SUV’s completely depleted battery pack up to 15 percent capacity in less than 10 minutes, therefore, giving it around 75 miles of rang. BMW has confirmed that iX will enter production in the second half of next year, and customers can expect the SUV to hit dealerships across America in early 2022.
Photos: BMW