BMW iX3 coming…
BMW’s next EV is almost ready. A year-long production preparation program is nearly complete at the Chinese factory that will build the battery-powered iX3 SUV for markets all over the world.
The plant in Shenyang, a joint venture between BMW and Chinese car maker Brilliance, recently completed its 200th pre-production iX3. The first was built in the middle of 2019.
Though the assembly line will reach full speed around August, and customer deliveries are scheduled to begin in some countries before the end of the year, exports to Australia will not commence until sometime in 2021. BMW Australia expects to make a decision on launch timing in a month or so.
The iX3 is basically an electrified version of the X3, BMW’s well-known medium-size five-seat SUV. It will be the first pure electric model to be part the Munich-based maker’s core line-up, not its i sub-brand.
Aerodynamic wheels and other design details will make the iX3 look slightly different from existing versions of the X3 with their petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid drivetrains. Passenger space and luggage room will be identical, despite the EV’s hefty underfloor battery pack.
While the looks of the iX3 will be boringly familiar, the same can’t be said of its electric drivetrain. The rear-drive SUV will be the first model to feature BMW’s fifth-generation eDrive tech, which will also go into the i4 and iNext EVs due for production in 2021.
One key advance is an electric motor that does not require magnets made from rare-earth elements. The eco-impact of mining and refining rare earths can be significant.
The motor is installed in the same cast aluminium housing as its power-control electronics and single-speed transmission. This drive unit is lighter and more compact than previous BMW designs. Maximum power and torque outputs for the iX3 will be 210kW and 400Nm.
BMW also claims the iX3’s lithium-ion battery pack features “pioneering battery cell technology”. It has a usable capacity of 74kWh.
If BMW can nail its performance targets for the iX3, it will be a highly competitive EV. A driving range of “around 440km in the WLTP test cycle” is promised, as is sub-20kWh/100km energy consumption.
