The iX.
MUNICH: In the race against Tesla and competitors like Audi and Mercedes, BMW is betting on two new electric models. Although they're very similar in terms of their drive systems, they could hardly be more different in terms of their appearance.
Ten years after the i3's highly acclaimed first appearance, BMW's double premiere in November will see the launch of two new electrics, the i4 and iX.
Priced from 58,300 euros in Germany, the i4 is a classic Gran Coupe in the same league as the 3 and 4 Series and is aimed primarily at traditional buyers.
The iX, on the other hand, is a rather idiosyncratic SUV with an almost futuristic interior in the luxury league and is aimed at the electric avant-garde.
The i4.
Electric avant-garde fans will have to dig deep into their pockets, mind, as BMW says the price will start at at least 77,300 euros.
While the two electric models differ greatly in appearance and cabin design, they are closely related in terms of equipment and drive. Both come with a new type of cockpit with curved OLED displays and an on-board system based on 5G technology.
And both use the fifth generation of motors and batteries, for which BMW claims a higher energy density, more efficiency and less installation space requirements.
According to BMW, the electric cousin of the 4 Series will be available at the start as the i4 40 with 340hp, accelerating from a standstill to 100kph in less than 6 seconds. It can reach a top speed of 190kph and has a range of up to 590km with a battery of around 80 kWh.
The i4 will also be the first electric from the BMW tuners at M GmbH, which are to sell the four-door model as the i4 M50 for at least 69,900 euros with 544hp, a faster sprint time of around 4 seconds, a top speed of 225kph and range of 510km.
The electric luxury SUV also has two models in the starting line-up. There is an iX 40 with 326hp, which accelerates from 0 to 100kph in 6.1 seconds, reaches up to 200kph and has a WLTP range of 425km with a 71 kWh battery.
The new iX (left) and i4 pose in front together with the iX3 and BMW's electric pioneer i3 (rear right), which has been in the range since 2013.
For about 20,000 euros more, BMW sells the iX 50, which costs at least 98,000 euros and has 523hp, a 4.6-second sprint time, also a 200kph top speed and 630km of range. Soon after, the top version from the factory tuners is to be the M60 with 600hp.
Depending on the model and drive variant, the batteries can be charged with up to 210kW and reach 80 per cent of battery in less than 40 minutes. That means you can, in theory, charge enough power for up to 164km in 10 minutes.
According to CEO Oliver Zipse, these two innovations mark an important milestone for BMW on its way to achieving a sales share of at least 50 per cent for electric models by the end of the decade.
However, the Bavarians are not relying solely on existing models such as the i3 or iX3 and the two newcomers, but are already planning further electric variants. They also recently confirmed an electric 7 Series.
