BMW shares first look of its iX electric SUV

BMW has unveiled its first purpose-built fully electric SUV - the iX - with a range of 373 miles and more than 500PS.

The BMW iX is the first model based on a new, modular, scalable future toolkit developed by the BMW Group, and will go into production  in the second half of 2021.

The new charging technology of the BMW iX enables DC fast charging at up to 200 kW. This means the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent of its full capacity in under 40 minutes. Added to which, within ten minutes enough energy can be fed into the battery to increase the car’s range by more than 75 miles. It takes less than eleven hours to charge the high-voltage battery from 0 to 100 per cent at 11 kW from a Wallbox.

The iX's new technology toolkit will boost its automated driving and digital services capability. For example, the level of computing power has been developed to process 20 times the data volume of previous models. As a result, around double the amount of data from vehicle sensors can be processed than was previously possible.

Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development, said: “We are setting new industry standards with the technology in the BMW iX. The iX has more computing power for data processing and more powerful sensor technology than the newest vehicles in our current line-up, is 5G-capable, will be given new and improved automated driving and parking functions and uses the high-performing fifth generation of our electric drive system.”

The BMW iX benefits from lightweight design and optimised aerodynamics. Its body structure, featuring an aluminium spaceframe and innovative Carbon Cage, has an extremely high torsional stiffness which enhances agility and maximises occupant protection while minimising weight. The intelligent material mix, with a variety of materials employed exactly where their specific properties can be utilised to best effect, is unique in this segment.