BMW introduces electric iX3 SUV with 459 km range and price from 71,000 euros

BMW introduces the iX3, effectively the electrified version of the existing X3 SUV equipped with internal combustion engines. The new electric version would have a range of 459 km and the suggested retail price starts at 71,000 euros.

BMW says that the iX3 gets an 80kWh battery, of which 74kWh can actually be used. In accordance with the WLTP standard, this would result in a range of 459 km. According to the manufacturer, the energy density of the 188 cells of the battery in the BMW iX3 is about twenty percent greater than in the batteries that BMW uses to date in its electric models. These are NMC 811 cells, in which the composition of the cathodes consists of eighty percent nickel, ten percent manganese and ten percent cobalt.

Charging with alternating current is possible with one phase or three phases and goes with a maximum of 11kW, but with a fast charger in combination with direct current, charging up to 150kW is possible. In ten minutes, 100 km of range can be added and the 400-volt battery can be charged from zero to eighty percent in 34 minutes, according to BMW.

The rear-wheel drive iX3 has an output of 210 kW or 286 hp and the torque is 400 Nm. The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes 6.8 seconds, which would be comparable to the existing BMW X3 xDrive30i. The top speed is electronically limited to 180 km/h.

According to BMW, the engine, transmission and electronics have been placed in a central housing for the first time and the iX3 uses a current-excited synchronous electric motor, according to the manufacturer. Unlike regular induction motors, no magnets would be used. The design used by BMW would, among other things, no longer require rare earth metals. However, it can also be a variant of a regular induction motor.

The iX3 is made in Shenyang, China and will be available in two different trim levels. The SUV is available for a retail price that starts at 71,000 euros.