BMW is finally announcing the price and specification of its first fully electric X model, the iX3. The SUV, which will be launched in the summer of 2021, will be available with two options: the iX3 Premier Edition and iX3 Premier Edition Pro. These respectively have a starting price of £61,900 and £64,900.
For the first time, the electric motor, transmission and power electronics are now arranged together in a single housing. The electric motor in the new BMW iX3 works according to the principle of a current-excited synchronous motor, without the use of magnets.
According to the company this EV will be nothing like ones it has produced before as the power density of the electric motor in the iX3 is 30 per cent greater than the existing fully electric vehicles within the BMW Group portfolio. The motor is up to 93 percent efficient, compared with under 40 percent for internal combustion engines.
The vehicle will have a battery capacity of 80 kWh, of which 74 kWh is utilised. The high efficiency of the drive systems will allow the iX3 to offer a range of up to 279 miles (WLTP test cycle) and to sprint from zero to 62 mph in 6.8 seconds with a top speed electronically limited to 112 mph.
If the vehicle is plugged into a direct current rapid-charging station of up to 150 kW, the high-voltage battery can be charged from 0 to 80 per cent of its full capacity in 34 minutes. Drivers can also inject the power required to add 62 miles to the car’s driving range in just 10 minutes.
This car will not only be cutting-edge, but also very efficient thanks to adaptive recuperation, which enhances efficiency and driving comfort during a journey. The intensity of the Brake Energy Regeneration is adapted to the road situation using data from the navigation system and the driver assistance system sensors.
The German brand has also worked extensively on the interior as it will be equipped with the new cloud-based BMW Maps navigation system that enables route and arrival times to be calculated with even greater speed and precision. It will also have services such as navigation with range display on the map and detailed information on public charging stations, covering everything from address, availability and connector type through to charging rate and Chargepoint Operator.
This capability includes navigation planning with recommendations for charging stops, information on points of interest near public charging stations and the ability to filter search results by fast-charging points.
Also, the aerodynamic wheels will make their debut on the BMW iX3, reducing its drag coefficient by around 5% over an equivalent vehicle with conventional light-alloy wheels. This gives the all-electric SAV a drag coefficient of 0.29.
At WhichEV, we are very excited to see this interesting model on the road and test-drive for our readers.