In a nutshell: BMW iX3
- Pricing and spec levels revealed for BMW’s upcoming iX3.
- It’s the first BMW ‘X’ model to get the all-electric treatment.
- Prices for the base ‘Premium’ model start at £61,900.
- It’ll come with a choice of four exterior body paint options and two exterior trim choices.
- First UK customer deliveries in summer 2021.
BMW has revealed tantalising new details about its iX3 - the firm’s first ever fully-electric SUV and a car that’ll take the fight to the likes of the Audi e-tron and the Jaguar I-Pace.
And we also now know how much it’ll cost - £61,900 in base trim - with the first deliveries to arrive in the summer of next year.
Of course, BMW knows a thing or two about producing electrified vehicles.
The BMW i3, some elements of which are carried across to the iX3, has sold more than 165,000 units globally since it first hit forecourts back in 2014.
A luxurious saloon ‘i7’ has also been teased, as BMW talks about how it’s on a mission to electrify its entire ‘portfolio’.
While the iX3 carries a premium price tag, it represents an attractive package.
It’ll be offered initially in two trim levels - ‘Premier Edition’, followed by ‘Premier Edition Pro’.
The four metallic body paint colours are Carbon Black, Mineral White, Phytonic Blue and Sophisto Grey.
The base model still comes with large 20” black alloys, an automatic tailgate, adaptive suspension and a panoramic sunroof.
Step inside the cabin and there’s a choice of four Vernasca leather interiors, as well as sun protect glazing, ambient lighting and electric seats as standard.
And additional options include wireless phone charging, heated front seats and the brand’s very latest driver assistance technology, including Driving Assistant Professional, Parking Assistant and BMW Live Cockpit Professional.
If you go for the £64,900 ‘Premium Pro’ package, things are improved with BMW’s Head-up Display, Harman Kardon surround sound, Gesture Control and Parking Assistant Plus.
And then there’s the cutting edge drive system, which generates 286 hp and peak torque of 295 lb-ft.
BMW says that grunt is sustained at high revs, ‘unlike many other electric motors’.
It means the iX3 can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 6.8 seconds - putting it on a par with the traditionally-engined BMW X3 xDrive30i.
Top speed is electronically limited to 112 mph and, befitting a BMW, power is sent to the rear wheels.
While the 80kWh battery gives the iX3 a range of up to 279 miles on the WLTP test cycle.
To put that into context, those are better figures than the Audi e-tron’s range of up to 252 miles, but inferior to the Jaguar I-Pace’s 292 mile range between charges.
Plug it into a rapid charging station and you’ll get it to 80 per cent of its full capacity in 34 minutes, while you can inject 62 miles worth of juice in just 10 minutes.
And BMW’s adaptive energy recuperation system is also present, including the firm’s signature ‘one-pedal driving’, which allows owners to pilot the car almost entirely with one pedal while doing most of the braking for you in order to maximise energy recovered.
The iX3 should also be as practical as it’s petrol or diesel siblings, with a boot capacity of 510 and which increases to a maximum 1,560 litres with the seats down.
It’s also equipped with BMW’s ‘Operating System 7’, which features a 12.3 inch instrument cluster behind the steering wheel and a 10.25-inch infotainment display.
The BMW iX3 is available to order now. View our latest BMW iX3 leasing deals here.
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