BMW iX EV Launched At Rs 1.16 Crore
The BMW iX all-electric SUV is now available in India for Rs 1.16 crore (ex-showroom, India). The iX is BMW’s first CBU (completely built unit) electric vehicle in the country, and it’s available in the xDrive 40 trim level. The iX is BMW’s ‘technology flagship,’ built on an advanced electric-only architecture. It sits at the top of the company’s range.
The BMW iX xDrive 40 has a power output of 326hp and a max torque of 630Nm. BMW claims that the xDrive 40 can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in 6.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 200 kilometres per hour. The xDrive 40 is equipped with two electric motors, one on each axle, to provide an all-wheel drive. Depending on the driving conditions, the AWD controller transfers torque between the front and rear axles.
The iX features front-wheel drive, a solidly mounted steering column, front and rear roll axles, and individually adjustable damper control. The iX is built on BMW’s CLAR chassis, which incorporates carbon fibre and aluminium in its construction. The aluminium used on the iX, by the way, is mostly recycled.
The iX is also available in a higher-spec xDrive 50 variant with 523hp and 765Nm of peak torque, as well as a WLTP-estimated driving range of up to 611km. According to BMW, this version of the iX can sprint from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in 4.6 seconds.
A 76.6kWh battery pack is included in the BMW iX xDrive 40. The WLTP cycle claims a driving range of up to 425 kilometres for the xDrive 40. As an introductory offer, BMW includes a 2.3kW single-phase charger for household connections and an 11kW AC wallbox charger. The battery can be charged from zero to 100 per cent in 36 hours with the 2.3kW charger, and in just seven hours with the latter.
If you can find one, the iX supports DC fast charging, which can charge the battery from 10% to 80% in 73 minutes at 50kW capacity and just 31 minutes at 150kW capacity.
The iNext Concept from 2018 was the first to show off the design of the BMW iX. It’s a futuristic take on the BMW design, with various EV-specific features that distinguish it from the brand’s ICE-powered vehicles. BMW’s recognisable and somewhat massive kidney grille dominates the iX’s front end. The grille is sealed off and holds multiple cameras, radar, and sensors essential for driver assistance systems because there is no need to send air into the radiator. Furthermore, the grille’s plastic is self-healing.
A quartet of light bands in the upper section of the thin headlamp assemblies has replaced BMW’s typical corona light design in the iX. The taillights are also designed in a similar manner.
The front bumper has sharp, angular design cues with air vents for aerodynamic effectiveness, and the rear bumper has diffuser inserts in M Sport form. Frameless windows, flush-fitting door handles, a fixed clamshell-style bonnet, side skirts, and a tapering glasshouse are among the iX’s other design characteristics. The iX is equipped with 255/50 profile tyres and 21-inch aerodynamically optimised rims. The coefficient of drag is an astounding 0.25 thanks to all the aero parts and fundamental shape designed to minimise wind resistance.
While the iX is around the same size as a BMW X5, its interior space is closer to that of the X7, thanks to the electric design that frees up the room around the front centre console and allows for a flat floor. Natural materials are used for the iX’s upholstery, while recycled polymers are used for some interior accents.
The redesigned hexagonal steering wheel and the enormous curving display that serves as both an instrument cluster and an infotainment device are the real highlights of the cabin. A 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment display, both tilted towards the driver, are housed in a single-piece curved glass. BMW’s latest iDrive 8 infotainment software is controlled by this system.
Inside the cabin of the BMW iX, the lack of tactile buttons creates a lovely sense of minimalism. Because this is an electric vehicle, there is no centre console, but the drive selector and BMW’s iDrive rotary controller are housed in the forward section of a high-mounted armrest. The door trims also include a few more controls.
On the inside, the degree of quality is outstanding. The combination of high-grade wood, chrome, and leather is stunning, and the overall quality standards are comparable to those of the BMW 7 series. The cabin is light and spacious, the front seats are large, sporty, and incredibly supportive, and there are various crystal bits strewn over the cabin, making this car feel both luxurious and technological.
The BMW iX has an electrochromic panoramic glass roof, multi-functional seats with memory and massage function, bespoke leather upholstery, ambient lighting, BMW Virtual Assistant, head-up display, wireless charging, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 4-zone climate control, 18-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, soft close doors, surround-view camera, reversing assistant, and more.
Multiple airbags, ABS with brake assist, cruise control with braking function, dynamic stability control (DSC), tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and a slew of driver assistance features like lane change warning with the active return, blind-spot detection, and front collision warning are among the safety features onboard. In addition, the iX just received a 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP in a crash test.
BMW is the latest of the leading luxury carmakers in India to introduce an electric vehicle. The Mercedes-Benz EQC, Audi e-tron SUV and Sportback, and Jaguar I-Pace will all compete against the BMW iX.
