Style Edit: BMW iX3 rewrites the EV rule book on range and sustainability
Based on the carmaker’s Neue Klasse platform, the new model has a sleek design, advanced tech and 805km range, all while cutting emissions
New versions of cars can sometimes be a little underwhelming – a slightly modified silhouette here, a few tweaks to the trim there. And then there’s the new BMW iX3, which doesn’t so much relaunch the vehicle as completely rewrite its design language, dramatically upgrading everything from aesthetics to electronics to sustainability.
The car – the BMW iX3 50 xDrive – is the newest battery electric version of the company’s X3 compact luxury crossover SUV. But where the model it updates, the G08, was based on the same BMW Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform as the equivalent non-electric vehicle, the new car is the first to be based on the carmaker’s Neue Klasse platform, carving out entirely new territory among EVs.
The upgrades begin with the new iX3’s dynamic lines and assertive silhouette, complemented by features including vertically arranged kidney grilles and a new light signature. The elegance of the visual glow-up continues on the inside, where a floating instrument panel is integrated into the door trim panels for a wraparound effect.
It’s also a whole lot brainier. Four high-performance computers give it 20 times the processing speed of its predecessor. There’s the new BMW Panoramic iDrive control system, numerous automated features that make it a cinch to drive and an Intelligent Personal Assistant that allows for natural voice commands.
Driven by two electric motors, the iX3 generates 469hp with 645Nm of torque, allowing it to reach 100km/h in a zippy 4.9 seconds. Not that kicking out that kind of power involves any compromise when it comes to range: the iX3 can roam for an impressive 805km.
