First introduced back in 2018, the upcoming iX is based on the Vision iNext concept and will be in BMW’s lineup from 2022 as their first electric compact SUV. With a completely different styling inside out and a promise of up to 300 miles on a single charge, the company will receive a lot of response when the iX will hit the markets. However, BMW did not reveal every tiny detail about the vehicle but we will try and cover everything that we know till now.

2022 BMW iX

Specifications

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• Model: 2022 BMW iX
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Overview

BMW’s first-ever Sports Activity Vehicle getting powered by a twin-motor eDrive which is in its fifth generation and will pump around 500 horsepower. The claims are very much trustable as it is coming from BMW with the company offering about 300 miles per full charge. It was inevitable for BMW to launch the Vision iNext based iX as it is quite hyped for some time now. Recently at the IAA Munich, BMW showcased this upcoming beast, and covering that, we have come to get a detailed look and feel about the vehicle. Hitting the US market, it will compete with the Audi e-Tron which has been one of the successful German EVs holding a lower price tag. Apart from the Audi, the new Mercedes-Benz EQC would be a great competitor to the BMW along with Tesla, which has already held a great impression in the EV industry. There will be just two trims: xDrive50 and M60 and will start from $84,195 for the base trim.

Fresh New Exteriors

The new iX is a combination of the popular X5 and X6 in a lot of ways but has its uniqueness in the design language. The dimensions are similar to that of the above-mentioned SUVs with similar height and length. It has a wheelbase of 118 inches similar to the X7. Coming to design philosophy, we like it. It is nice to see BMW work extensively on the design front unlike that of the other European EVs which look almost the same to their gas-driven siblings. The front has the slimmest LED headlights BMW ever put forward.

The split LED DRLs add up the charm and the covered intake grilles have radar, sensors, and camera integrated inside for added safety enhancements and autonomous driving capabilities. BMW calls it the “intelligence panel” which has a plastic coating on the outside for reducing long-term damage. The rear has matching sleek LED taillights with a rear spoiler, making them look more dramatic. The sides have flush-fitted door opening handles and are activated by touch. The iX also has wheel sizes similar to the X7 at 21-inch.

Interior: Enter BMW’s new future mobility cabin

The newly designed interior is what steals the show with the new iX. BMW has made it look modern by embracing every bit of quality and practicality. The interior materials are mainly man-made for increased sustainability but offer a similar level of opulence to the present luxury offerings from the brand. The materials on the new dashboard design, door panels, and roof are wrapped in Alcantara-type material. Two big screens are whacked onto the dash and by the images, it seems that the infotainment system will be an updated one and more modern-looking.

The main infotainment screen is a bigger 14.9-inch touchscreen panel and the driver information display remains similar to the present X series with a 12.3-inch display. What’s more interesting is the all-new steering wheel design that looks amazing with a flat bottom and is in all-sporty attire. The faux-wood-made center console does not look cheap and has a transparent iDrive controller and touch-sensitive controls around it. The seats are all faux-leather made and have diamond-cut patterns, offering excellent cushioning which replicates sofas back at home. The front seats come with multi-level heating and power-adjustability like the other Bimmer SUVs.

Cabin spaciousness is something you shouldn’t be worried about because it will be similar to the brand’s other SUVs which means, ample head, shoulder, and headroom and enlarged cargo capacity. BMW is yet to unveil the proper dimensions and we have to wait to make any comment on the iX. Interior features that are worth mentioning are:

- Up to four-zone automatic climate control.

- Leather-wrapped hexagon-designed steering wheel.

- Optional microfiber and leather upholstery.

- Heated and multi-level power-adjustable seats.

- 12.3-inch fully digital driver information display.

- Faux wood and leather trim interior.

BMW’s next-generation infotainment system makes its way with a lot of changes in the user interface. BMW claims that the new iDrive 8 will be better in many aspects than the system it will replace with enhanced voice recognition, a bigger 14.9-inch touchscreen display with better touch sensitivity, and viewing angles. Not to judge but the interface looks somewhat similar to that of the Jaguar Land Rover system. A few of the important features include:

- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

- 14.9-inch touchscreen display.

- New iDrive 8 system.

- Navigation system.

- BMW heads-up display.

- Satellite radio.

- Enhanced voice recognition.

- WiFi hotspot with 5G connectivity.

- 18-speaker Harman Kardon audio unit as standard.

- 30-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium unit. (Optional)

Performance and Range

The new iX is BMW’s newest innovation in the EV market and that is quite evident in the performance. The latest fifth-gen eDrive technology entwines two electric motors with a high-voltage battery pack and combined they put out 516 horsepower and 564 pound-feet of torque. The higher M60 model will produce around 600 horses as per claims. As standard, the iX will run four wheels on power and will conquer the 62 miles an hour mark in less than 5 seconds. That’s huge for a claim by BMW and will have the results as we hope to get it tested on the roads. However, the battery capacity is not revealed yet but it will be a very powerful one for sure.

BMW claims that the battery will be consuming less power as much as 21 kWh per 62 miles which will possibly make it run over 300 miles combined on a single charge. If that is the case, then the iX will be able to beat the leading European SUV options with the likes of Audi e-Tron, Jaguar I-PACE, and even the latest Mercedes-Benz EQC. In terms of charging, BMW will be offering up to a whopping 200 kW DC fast-charging tech that will potentially charge 10-80 percent in less than 40 minutes, and a quick 10-minute charge can return up to 75 MPGe. BMW will ship the iX with an 11 kW charger which will take around eleven hours to juice up the battery.

BMW iX xDrive50 specifications

Advanced Driver Assistance and The Future Of BMW

BMW will be packing the upcoming iX with all the available advanced safety features including pedestrian warning and other advanced braking assists. But that said, the company is focusing on autonomous driving tech with the help of radar and camera systems for better convenience and in simpler words, compete with Tesla who aces in the industry. No matter BMW is taking all of its time to launch the beast after vigorous testing.

BMW iX Competition

Tesla Model X

We pit it against arguably the best electric SUV out there considering both will be priced in the same bracket. The Model X has been the go-to choice for many people so far. It is offered in two trims. The base Long Range model comes with a dual-motor setup and delivers an estimated range of 360 miles on a full charge. The SUV takes just 3.8 seconds to sprint to 60 mph. This trim is priced at $89,990.

Tesla will also introduce a new Plaid version that will arrive in May or June 2021. This model will have a tri-motor setup that comes with an estimated range of 340 miles. It will take just 2.5 seconds to sprint to 60 mph from a standstill and go all the way up to 163 mph. The Plaid Model X will start at $119,990.

Read our full review on the Tesla Model X

Rivian R1S

Not a conventional competitor to the BMW iX, but the Rivian R1S is one of the strongest vehicles in the SUV segment already. It is still some time away, but a lot is known about it already. It will feature four motors that will help it sprint to 60 mph in three seconds. It can be had in a three-row, seven-seat setup, which isn’t the case with the iX. The R1T is expected to boast a 15.6-inch touchscreen on the center console, but it’s not clear if all the trims will feature the same unit. The R1S starts at $70,000 and goes up to $77,500, which means even the top-end will undercut the starting price of the iX in all likelihood.

Read our full review on the Rivian R1S

What do we think?

BMW is keeping our expectations high and has never failed to deliver what the consumers want in almost every aspect. The iX will be the stepping stone in the luxury EV segment for BMW with advanced intelligence and technologically lavish cabin. Given the claims, the new iX should beat a lot of performance EV SUVs in the market but everything comes at a cost.