This week, Bmw has put on the table its next electric vehicles, the SUV iX, and the i4 sedan; two models that will risk disrupting the luxury electric vehicle segment due to their convincing autonomy, specifications and technologies. And unsurprisingly, BMW took the opportunity to confirm that, yes, there will be a high performance version. M60i of the iX.
The news was confirmed in a single sentence: “We can’t wait to unveil the iX M60i over the next few months. There you have it, everything had been said. True to form, the Bavarian manufacturer will continue to offer variants that focus on performance and driving, even in an electric world.
Recall that BMW did the same thing with the i4 sedan which will be offered in two versions, namely the ordinary eDrive40 version, whose electric motor placed on the rear axle is powered by a battery with a capacity of 83.9 kilowatt hours (81 , 5 usable kilowatt-hours). The high-performance M50i adds a second engine to the front end for a combined total output of 536 horsepower and 586 pound-feet of torque, with both engines being powered by the same battery.
But the strategy could be different for the iX, as the vehicle is offered as standard (as an xDrive50) with two-engine all-wheel drive. It is also powered by a battery with a much higher capacity of 111.5 kilowatt-hours (106.3 kilowatt-hours usable), but its range is the same as that of the i4 at 475 kilometers according to projections by the EPA.
Everything suggests that BMW is leaving room to offer even more performance with the same battery. It will be interesting to see how the manufacturer develops its electric technologies to offer a real performance electric SUV, but above all, to stand up to Tesla with its Model X Plaid.
Because yes, the BMW iX appears to be a strong competitor to the Model X. Granted, it offers less range than the California SUV (on paper), but it sells for a lower starting price of $ 89,990 instead. from $ 124,990 for a Model X Long Range. We would therefore expect an iX M60i to sell for a lower price than a Model X Plaid, which currently retails for $ 159,990.
