THE first-ever BMW iX, built on a new, modular and scalable platform and currently undergoing its final phase of development, will arrive in Australia in Q4 this year in two model variants, the iX xDrive40 and iX xDrive50.
Development and production of the BMW iX follows an all-encompassing approach to sustainability, involving compliance with strict environmental and social standards in the extraction of raw materials, as well as the use of electricity from renewable sources.
It also features a high proportion of recycled materials. For example, the cobalt and lithium required for the high-voltage batteries is procured from controlled sources in Australia and Morocco before supplying them to the battery cell manufacturers.
The battery cells are manufactured using exclusively green power from certified sources. Aluminium manufactured using electricity from solar energy plants is also used in the production of the BMW iX.
The car’s interior features FSC-certified wood, leather tanned with olive leaf extracts and other natural materials. Among the raw materials used for the floor coverings and mats are recovered fishing nets.
The electric motors for the BMW iX are marked out by a design that enables the use of rare earths to be avoided. They work according to the principle of a current-excited synchronous motor.
The excitation of the rotor in the BMW iX motors is not induced by fixed permanent magnets, but rather the feed-in of electric energy. This removes the need for the critical materials used to manufacture magnets.
The defining trait of the driving experience of the BMW iX is power delivery that is not only lightning fast, but also unusually consistent, underscoring the car’s brand-typical sporting excellence.
In the BMW iX xDrive50, the drive system, which features one electric motor on the front axle and another at the rear axle, produces total output of more than 370kW and enables acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in less than 5.0 seconds.
The BMW iX xDrive40 has an output of more than 240kW, allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100km/h in approximately 6.0 seconds. The electric motor, transmission and power electronics come together as a highly integrated package within a single housing.
This compact construction, in addition to optimised aerodynamics and intelligent design, also benefits the drive system’s efficiency.
The result is average electric power consumption of less than 21kWh/100km for the iX xDrive50 and less than 20kWh/100km for the xDrive40.
As with the electric motors, power electronics and charging technology, the high-voltage batteries are also the product of fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology. They are also positioned low down in the vehicle floor as an integral component of the body.
The gravimetric energy density of the lithium-ion batteries has been increased by around 20 per cent again over the previous-generation battery. The battery cells are manufactured according to precise specifications.
The BMW iX xDrive50 is fitted with a battery carrying a gross energy content of more than 100kWh, while the battery unit for the BMW iX xDrive40 has a gross energy content of more than 70kWh.
This provides the BMW iX xDrive50 a range in excess of 600km, while the BMW iX xDrive40 can travel more than 400km. The new charging technology enables DC (direct current) fast charging with extremely high charging power.
The iX xDrive50 can replenish its high-voltage battery at up to 200kW, while the maximum charging capacity of the iX xDrive40 is 150kW. This means that a 10-minute plug-in time provides sufficient energy to add more than 120km and 90km respectively.
In both model variants, the high-voltage battery’s charge can be increased from 10 to 80 per cent of its full capacity in less than 40 minutes.
The new technology toolkit making its debut in the BMW iX also provides the platform for significant progress in the areas of automated driving and digital services, and this vehicle will lead the way for a future generation of cars that redefine sustainability.
This trailblazing character is clearly expressed in the car’s design, which has been developed from the inside out. The BMW iX has therefore been created to provide quality of life and wellbeing for drivers and passengers.
The clear and minimalist design of its exterior showcases a new form of mobility geared squarely to the needs of the vehicle’s occupants.
Its interior offers innovative options for using the time during a journey and enjoying relaxation, safety, security, and a new form of luxury in the process.
Further information and pricing will be announced closer to launch.
