BMW Officially Announces Their iX3 Electric Crossover
We’ve been seeing leaked versions of the iX3 for some time now, since their 2018 debut of the concept car which it is based. Now, we know the official specifications and details surrounding the 2021 production model, which will be the RWD Chinese version.
The iX3 gets a reasonably peppy 282 horsepower (210 kilowatts) motor that gives 295 lb-ft of torque. It’ll make 60 mph from a standstill in 6.8 seconds. Not exactly insane figures, but still respectable. BMW have gone and limited the top speed of this model to 112 mph, for efficiency.
The iX3 gets a very respectable 286 miles of range from the “forgiving” WLTP rating system. As an added bonus, the 150 kW charging system which BMW have implemented will fill the 80-kWh battery pack (74-kWh usable capacity) in no time at all.
Specifically, BMW claim a 0 to 80 percent charge in 34 minutes. That equals 10 minutes of charging dishing out 62 miles or 100 km of range.
The iX3 will have the same distinguishing features as the gasoline X3, but will sit a couple of inches lower, and have the signature grille blocked-off for aerodynamics. Speaking of aerodynamics, the wheels will also be largely the same as the April 2018 show car, designed to reduce drag.
As this will be a Chinese-market car, it’s frustrating to find how sensible it will be, and how that doesn’t matter because of where most of us live. I can’t help but feel as if auto companies are leaving us for another family they met on a business trip.
Either way, we’ll have this sort of car soon enough. China is simply too large of an EV market to ignore right now, so BMW are taking advantage of that.