BMW prices iX tech flagship from $135,900

BY CALLUM HUNTER | 2nd Jun 2021

BMW AUSTRALIA has revealed the local pricing and specification details of its looming iX electric SUV with the new technology flagship due to check into local showrooms in the final quarter of this year, flaunting a starting price of $135,900 plus on-road costs for the xDrive40.

Three variants will be offered Down Under initially with the line-up set to consist of the xDrive40, xDrive40 Sport ($141,900) and xDrive50 Sport ($169,900), all of which use an all-wheel-drive, dual-motor setup offering two levels of power and range.

The xDrive40 has front and rear-mounted electric motors developing a combined 240kW of power and 630Nm of torque, resulting in a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.1 seconds.

The motors draw power from a 77kW/h lithium-ion battery, affording the base and mid-range variants an effective driving range of 425km according to the WLTP cycle.

All of these figures are put in the shade by the top-spec xDrive50 Sport, however, which thanks to its bigger 112kW/h battery develops a combined 385kW/765Nm and can go from 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds and cover up to 630km on a single charge.

The range will be bolstered in the near future by the flagship M60 variant which BMW tips will develop more than 440kW, however no range claims have been published as yet.

BMW says the xDrive40 twins can be charged at a rate of up to 150kW when using a DC fast charger. Under ideal conditions, charging the battery from 10-80 percent should take 31 minutes.

The xDrive50 meanwhile can be charged at up to 200kW however its 10-80 percent time dips slightly to 35 minutes because of its bigger capacity.

To help prolong charging stops, all variants come with adaptive energy recuperation which manages the intensity of the regenerative braking system according to the varying road and driving conditions via feedback from the navigation system and sensors used by the various driver assistance systems.

“When approaching a junction, for example, the degree of recuperation is automatically increased, maximising energy recuperation while simultaneously harnessing the deceleration effect to a standstill,” BMW said in a statement.

“On the open road, coasting functions can take over, allowing the car to free wheel with no drive power whenever the driver eases off the accelerator.”

While the adaptive system is the default setting, drivers will be able to choose between high, medium or low settings from within the iDrive system with ‘high’ giving a one-pedal drive experience.

In terms of standard equipment, there is little to separate the xDrive40 Sport from its standard xDrive40 save for its more aggressive body kit, bigger 22-inch alloy wheels (standard version rides on 21s), metallic paintwork and upgraded brakes.

Standard gear highlights shared between the two include LED headlights, comfort access, heated front seats with massage function, four-zone climate control, ambient lighting, BMW iconic sounds, driving assistant professional, parking assistant plus, a Harman/Kardon sound system, DAB+ digital radio, wireless charging, connected package professional including Apple Carplay, ConnectedDrive eDrive services, BMW natural interaction, BMW live cockpit pro, BMW Operating System 8, interior design ‘suite’ and a five-year Chargefox subscription.

Stepping up to the xDrive50 Sport meanwhile adds a panorama glass roof ‘sky lounge’, BMW Laserlight, integral active steering, adaptive air suspension and soft-close doors. As the Sport nomenclature denotes, it also flaunts the more aggressive styling cues.

Customers across the range will be able to opt for various options packs – comfort, enhancement and indulgence – if they want even more toys, however not all packs are available on all variants.

Being a modern BMW and the brand’s technological flagship at that, it should come as no surprise to find all versions of the iX are loaded with latest-generation driver assist systems.

Five cameras, five radar sensors and 12 ultrasonic sensors are used to monitor the vehicle’s surroundings with just some of the functions including front collision warning that can notify the driver of oncoming traffic and cyclists/pedestrians while turning.

The steering and lane-control assistants, active cruise control and exit warning function systems have all been expanded and further developed with more accurate and specific detection while a remote theft recorder and parking assistant have been added.

BMW has sold 8323 new vehicles so far this year ending April, marking a 14.6 per cent increase on the 7260 units it shifted over the same period last year.

2022 BMW iX pricing*