BMW iX - A revolution

The pioneering character of the BMW iX also clearly shines through in its exterior design. The clearly structured, reduced design language, the body's imposing styling with muscular SAV proportions, and the precisely crafted details create an aura of progressive luxury. Standout exterior features include the almost completely blanked-off BMW kidney grille, whose surface is the product of innovative manufacturing techniques and incorporates camera and radar sensors.

Well-balanced driving characteristics
The body structure, design principle, and chassis tuning of the BMW iX are perfectly geared to blending superb ride comfort with sporty handling characteristics. The aluminum spaceframe construction and the Carbon Cage's use of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) in the roof and at the sides and rear result in an intelligent material mix that increases rigidity at the same time as minimizing weight. The optimized aerodynamic properties that contribute to the car's drag coefficient of just 0.25 also have a positive impact on efficiency and range. The high-voltage battery located low down in the car's underbody lowers the center of gravity, combining with the even weight distribution to make handling more nimble. Thanks to its well-balanced driving characteristics, the BMW iX feels solid and comfortable out on the road, yet also exudes fleet-footed agility.

The standard chassis technology for the BMW iX comprises a double-wishbone front axle, five-link rear axle, lift-related dampers, and an electric steering system with Servotronic function and a variable ratio. Two-axle air suspension with electronically controlled dampers, Integral Active Steering, and Sport brakes can all be found on the options list. As an alternative to the standard 20-inch light-alloy wheels, there is a choice of 21-inch and 22-inch Air Performance Wheels. These can be fitted with noise-reduced tires, which have a layer of foam on their inner surface to improve acoustic comfort.

Electric all-wheel drive and near-actuator wheel slip limitation
The electric all-wheel-drive system in the BMW iX transmits exactly the right amount of drive torque to the front and rear wheels in all driving situations. Its intelligent control enables fully variable power transmission ranging from highly efficient pure rear-wheel drive through to an all-wheel-drive set-up that maximizes traction.

The near-actuator wheel slip limitation technology fitted in tandem with all-wheel drive for the first time brings about a further improvement in traction and handling stability. Integrated into the motor management, this system produces very precise and lightning-fast corrective inputs and thereby enables the car to make effortless progress at all times, even in adverse weather and road conditions. The BMW iX xDrive50 posts acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.6 seconds, while the BMW iX xDrive40 hits the same mark from rest in 6.1 seconds.

Highly integrated and efficient drive technology
The fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology fitted in the BMW iX is centered around a drive unit that brings together the electric motor, power electronics, and transmission within a single housing. This highly integrated electric drive system topology has a beneficial effect on both power density and efficiency, at the same time as making highly economical use of the installation space in the area between the front and rear axle.

Both motors in the BMW iX work according to the principle of an electrically excited synchronous motor, where the excitation of the rotor is induced by the feed-in of electrical energy rather than fixed permanent magnets. This enables them to put their maximum torque on tap immediately on pulling away and maintain it over an extremely broad rev band. Combined torque peaks at 630 Nm (464 lb-ft) in the BMW iX xDrive40 and an even higher 765 Nm (564 lb-ft) in the BMW iX xDrive50.

Adaptive and individually regulated recuperation
Adaptive recuperation gives a further boost to the efficiency and range of the BMW iX. Intelligently connected drive management means the intensity of the brake energy recuperation during overrun and active braking can be adapted to the road situation, as detected by data from the navigation system and the sensors used by the driver assistance systems. When approaching a junction, for example, the degree of recuperation can be increased, in order to feed energy back into the high-voltage battery while harnessing the deceleration effect at the same time. On the open road, meanwhile, the coasting function can take over, allowing the car to "freewheel" with no drive power whenever the driver eases off the accelerator.

Adaptive recuperation is the default setting in driving position D. Alternatively, the driver can choose a high, medium, or low Brake Energy Regeneration setting for all driving situations in the BMW iDrive menu. The highest recuperation setting is automatically activated in driving position B, which also produces the characteristic one-pedal feeling. Information on the energy flow can be viewed in the control display no matter which driving position is selected. The Efficiency Trainer offers hints for driving in a very economical manner, while the range horizon clearly illustrates the impact of driving style on the high-voltage battery's charge level.

High-voltage battery with the very latest battery cell technology
Fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology also includes a high-voltage battery with state-of-the-art battery cell technology. Its volumetric energy density at the cell level is up by around 40 percent compared to the high-voltage battery in the 2020 BMW i3. The BMW iX xDrive50 is fitted with a high-voltage battery with a net energy content of 105.2 kWh (gross energy content: 111.5 kWh), while the battery unit for the BMW iX xDrive40 has a net energy content of 71 kWh (gross energy content: 76.6 kWh).

The standard specification of the BMW iX includes an integrated heating and cooling system for the cabin, together with its high-voltage battery and a drive system that operates using an exceptionally efficient heat pump function. Anticipatory thermal management enables the high-voltage battery's operating temperature to be optimized for quick and efficient charging prior to a scheduled stop at a fast-charging station.

The Combined Charging Unit (CCU) in the BMW iX has been designed to offer a very high level of charging flexibility. DC power can be taken on board at a rate of up to 200 kW (BMW iX xDrive50) or 150 kW (BMW iX xDrive40). This allows the battery's state of charge to be increased from 10 to 80 percent in around 35 minutes in the BMW iX xDrive50 or 31 minutes in the case of the BMW iX xDrive40. What is more, the range can be increased by up to 150 kilometers (93 miles) for the BMW iX xDrive50 and over 95 kilometers (59 miles) for the BMW iX xDrive40 in just ten minutes when they are plugged into a DC fast-charging station with an initial battery charge of 10 percent. BMW iX models in Europe are supplied complete with a BMW Charging Card, the Flexible Fast Charger offering a charging rate of up to 11 kW, and a mode 3 charging cable for public charging stations. The special tariff system offered by BMW Charging allows electrical power to be replenished at a very attractive price at both public charging stations and high-power charging stations.

Premiere for the new generation of the BMW iDrive control/operation system
The new generation of the iDrive display and operating system making its debut in the BMW iX expands the interaction between driver and vehicle and turns it into a natural dialogue. It is based on the new BMW Operating System 8 and was designed with a clear focus on the touchscreen operation of the BMW Curved Display and on verbal communication with the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, which has also undergone an extensive upgrade. The BMW Curved Display is a fully digital display grouping formed by a 12.3-inch information display and a control display with a screen diagonal of 14.9 inches housed together behind a glass surface that is angled towards the driver. The digital personal assistant now boasts additional capabilities and uses a new graphic when communicating with the vehicle's occupants.

The new My Modes expand the range of vehicle settings that can be selected, thereby creating an all-encompassing driving experience. Remote Software Upgrades and the option of also purchasing vehicle functions later from the BMW ConnectedDrive Store via Functions on Demand, then having them installed over the air, keep the vehicle software “always fresh”. Navigation using the cloud-based system BMW Maps and Augmented Reality Video in the control display ensures quick and accurate route planning while also making it easy for the driver to find their way on the road. The use of 5G mobile technology for data transmission and the ability to integrate a personal mobile account into the car using the personal eSIM reinforce the pioneering status of the BMW iX.

Wide variety of driver assistance systems
The new technology toolkit in the BMW iX offers considerable potential for driving forward the development of automated driving and parking functions, with the prospect of Level 3 functionality in the medium term. A new generation of sensors, a new software stack, and a powerful computing platform provide the basis for exceptional intelligence. Five cameras, five radar sensors, and 12 ultrasonic sensors are used to monitor the vehicle's surroundings.

The BMW iX comes equipped with the most extensive set of standard driver assistance systems ever seen on a BMW along with a wealth of innovations. The front collision warning system, for instance, now detects oncoming traffic when turning left (in countries where vehicles drive on the right) as well as cyclists and pedestrians when turning right. Availability of the optional Steering and Lane Control Assistant has been significantly expanded, while the optional Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go function offers enhanced situational distance adjustment. The exit warning function, which alerts to the presence of cyclists or pedestrians in the surrounding area before the doors are opened, and the Remote Theft Recorder are both new features. Also to be found on the standard equipment list for the BMW iX is the Parking Assistant including Reversing Assist Camera and the Reversing Assistant.

The numbers
The BMW iX will be launched with a choice of two model variants. Both are equipped with an electric all-wheel-drive system, with combined output of 385 kW/523 hp in the BMW iX xDrive50 (electric power consumption combined in the WLTP cycle: 23.0 - 19.8 kWh/100 km [62 miles]; CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) and 240 kW/326 hp in the BMW iX xDrive40 (electric power consumption combined in the WLTP cycle: 22.5 - 19.4 kWh/100 km [62 miles]; CO2 emissions: 0 g/km). The drive technology's efficiency paired to the very latest battery cell technology results in WLTP-calculated ranges of up to 630 kilometers (391 miles) in the BMW iX xDrive50 and up to 425 kilometers (264 miles) in the BMW iX xDrive40. 

Also set to join the model line-up at a later date is the BMW iX M60 (electric power consumption combined in the WLTP cycle: 21.6 kWh/100 km [62 miles]; CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) with maximum output in excess of 440 kW/600 hp that promises an exceptionally sporty all-electric driving experience. (The figures relating to motor output and energy consumption for the BMW iX M60 are predicted values based on the car's current stage of development.)