The press release about the new BMW iX is long, but half of the text is not about the car itself, but about BMW’s goal to make its production so environmentally friendly. There are many recyclable materials in the iX, BMW said, and the battery contains cobalt and lithium purchased from “controlled sources in Australia and Morocco.” By this BMW probably means that no children’s hands were involved in mines in Africa and South America.
The design of the BMW iX is getting used to
Anyway, it’s great that BMW – a manufacturer that has lobbied hard against stricter emission requirements and the Paris climate agreement – is now so concerned with the environment. And the more we see the design of the BMW iX, the more we get used to it. Many people do not like the ‘kidneys’, but as far as we are concerned, the rear of the SUV is a weak point. It looks like the car is driving around with a saggy bottom. Just take a look and profile at the iX.
BMW iX xDrive 40 en xDrive 50 met 4WD
As mentioned, it is available in two variants, both with two electric motors and therefore four-wheel drive. The BMW iX xDrive40 delivers 300 hp, has a 70-kWh battery and can reach a maximum distance of 400 kilometers on a full charge. Fast charging is done with a maximum of 150 kW. The BMW iX xDrive50 is 500 hp, has a 100-kWh battery and should be able to reach more than 600 kilometers. The charging capacity is 200 kW (for comparison: a Porsche Taycan achieves 270 kW).
Electric BMW iX from 86,972 euros
The BMW iX xDrive40 has a starting price of 86,972 euros. This makes it a few tens more expensive than the entry-level version of the BMW X5, the plug-in hybrid xDrive45e. For the BMW iX xDrive50 you have to count down at least 105,472 euros. In terms of exterior dimensions, the Audi E-Tron comes close to the BMW iX. But the price list of that electric SUV starts ‘already’ at 67,705 euros for the 71-kWh version. The most expensive Audi E-Tron – the S – is at 105,545 euros.