MUNICH: With the new iX3, BMW is preparing to launch its second fully electric car, this time a no-fumes spin-off of the X3 SUV - and one that looks almost identical.

BMW has announced plans to roll out its latest electric in January 2021 and has set the base price in its home market at €66,300 (RM326,000). In contrast to the i3 - BMW's only fully electric car so far - the iX3 isn't an entirely new kind of car, but merely an existing SUV converted to run on batteries.

Recognisable from the outside mainly by a new radiator grille and a blue trim, the iX3 has 286hp from a rear-wheel drive.



It's powered by an 80-kWh rechargeable battery, which is designed to provide a range of up to 460km in the WLTP cycle.

Charging with up to 150kW, the iX3 can draw enough power for 100km in just 10 minutes and reaches a battery level of 84 per cent after 34 minutes.

According to BMW, the engine accelerates with up to 400Nm of torque from a standstill to 100kph in 6.4 seconds and is electronically limited to 180kph.



Significantly more compact than before, the batteries on board make for between 510 and 1,560 litres of luggage space.

This won't be the last electric from BMW we'll hear of in the coming months, and the company has also announced other EVs, such as the i4 in 2021 based on the new 4 Series and, later, the iNext.

Keywords