BMW has unveiled the first production car from its Neue Klasse lineup: the second generation of the all-electric iX3. It is slated for production in Hungary soon.
The crossover SUV is sized 4,782 x 1,895 x 1,635 mm (186.8 x 74 x 63.9 inches) large with 2,897 mm (113.2 inches) of wheelbase. The trunk fits 520 liters (18.36 cubic feet) of luggage with the seats up and 1,750 liters (61.8 cubic feet) with them folded down. A small 58-liter frunk is also available.
Right, now, the only powertrain announced for the new iX3 is called the 50 xDrive and produces 469 PS (463 hp / 345 kW) along with 635 Nm (468 lb-ft) of torque. It takes the SUV from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds and to an electronically capped top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph).
A 108.7-kWh battery pack lets the new iX3 cover between 679 and 805 km (422–500 miles) of range per change, depending on the situation. Charging power has been raised to 400 kW, meaning you can top up the battery from 10 to 80% in 21 minutes. If you only have 10 minutes to spare, you can still get up to 372 km (231 miles) of range in that time.
Speaking of the main selling point of the electric X3, BMW proudly points an incredibly complex electronic system that governs every aspect of the EV, from infotainment to ADAS. It consists of four computing units nicknamed Superbrains. One of them, dubbed the Heart of Joy, receives and processes all data relevant to the powertrain and the dynamic performance. Another one handles the data streams from all driver-assisting cameras and sensors and benefits from a 20x performance boost compared to the model used before.
The interior trim primarily consists of synthetic fibers and cloth, while leather is restricted to BMW Individual custom orders. Typical BMW M options, like bucket seats and a sports steering wheel, are also available at a premium. The dashboard is dominated by a giant Panoramic iDrive display spanning its entire width, but you can still opt for a heads-up display to go alongside it. The infotainment system runs on the latest BMW X operating system and now supports third-party app installations.
