With the new 2022 BMW iX, the automaker turns a corner on its road to electrification and a sustainable, carbon-neutral future. The iX is a fully electric, midsize luxury SUV with seating for up to five people, and it offers an estimated 300 miles of driving range. It goes on sale in the U.S. in early 2021.
Yes, the BMW iX has a prominent grille. But there is a good reason for it. It’s actually a transparent panel covering the sophisticated new camera and radar units that will support next-generation advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS).
To maximize the driving range, BMW honed the iX’s aerodynamics to achieve a 0.25 coefficient of drag, a remarkable figure for an SUV. Wheels range from 20 inches to 22 inches in diameter, and a Sport Package adds a more aggressive look.
Size-wise, the BMW iX is similar to a BMW X5.
BMW says it designed the iX around a Shy Tech philosophy that dictates technology should only be apparent when necessary. The result is a minimalistic interior with simple controls and the first production application of the automaker’s BMW Curved Display instrumentation and infotainment screens.
The high-definition 12.3-inch instrumentation and 14.9-inch infotainment screens have an anti-reflective coating to ensure they’re visible at all times. An electrochromic panoramic glass sunroof darkens to reduce sunlight (and glare), and the driver faces a hexagonal steering wheel.
Ecologically sensitive materials are evident throughout the iX, including recycled plastic, FSC-certified wood, and BMW’s SensaTec synthetic leather. Upgrades include a textile and microfiber seating material or natural leather with a natural olive leaf extract covering the surface.
In addition to the Sport Package, the BMW iX is available with several options. Highlights include four-zone automatic climate control with nanofiber filtration technology, radiant interior surface heating, massaging front seats, and a 30-speaker Bowers & Wilkins high-end audio system.
Two electric motors, one at each axle, power the BMW iX. Together, this eDrive propulsion system makes an estimated 500 horsepower, and BMW says the SUV should accelerate to 60 mph in less than five seconds.
The battery is housed under the vehicle’s floor and between the wheels. It offers an estimated driving range of 300 miles, is manufactured without using rare earth raw materials, and is produced in a facility using renewable energy.
Compatible with 200-kW DC fast-charging stations, the BMW iX can add 75 miles of range in just 10 minutes. In less than 40 minutes, the battery can recharge from 10% to 80%. Install an 11-kW Level 2 home charging station, and the iX fully recharges in 11 hours if you start with a nearly depleted battery.
BMW is partnering with EVgo to provide easy smartphone-app access to charging stations around the country. The automaker chose EVgo because it uses 100% renewable energy for its charging stations.
BMW did not divulge information about the iX’s safety technologies, other than to describe the camera and radar units mounted behind the grille, which includes heating and washing systems to ensure the ADAS works appropriately. The company did explain that the iX offers 20 times the computing speed of a current BMW and that it is ready to support the automated driving technologies of the future.
That same computing capability powers the BMW iX’s infotainment system. Drivers use the touchscreen, natural language voice commands, or an iDrive controller on the center console to operate the iX’s various features and functions. Remote Software Upgrade capability (also known as over-the-air updates) keeps the iX up to date as BMW develops new features for the SUV.
Options include a head-up display, and BMW Digital Key transforms the owner’s smartphone into a digital key that operates the door locks and turns the vehicle on and off.
BMW is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of November 11, 2020, but it may have changed since that date.
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