BMW has announced a forthcoming expansion of its electric car lineup in Europe. The compact-sized iX2 is getting an affordable single-motor version and the i5 sedan is getting a middle-ground dual-motor one. Both are going on sale in March.
Back when BMW introduced the new 5-Series, it said the i5 would initially ship with two electric powertrain options. The company has now added a third option called the xDrive40. In it, the saloon drives all four wheels with a combined 394 PS (389 hp / 290 kW) and 590 Nm (440 lb-ft). As a result, it needs 5.4 seconds to sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) and maxes out at 215 km/h (133 mph).
Like its peers, the xDrive40 gets a battery rated at 81.2 kilowatt-hours. Its usable range varies between 463–538 km (287–334 miles) depending on circumstances.
As for the new entry-level iX2, it gets a 204-PS (201-hp / 150-kW) electric motor at the front axle. The standard sprint time goes up to a sluggish 8.6 seconds and the top speed gets capped at 170 km/h (105 mph).
On the upside, less power means roughly 25 km (15.5 miles) more range compared to the top spec. Depending on the situation, the new iX2 can cover 439–478 km (273–297 miles) on a charge.
