In July 2020, the BMW iX3 production model was unveiled. According to the WLTP, the 80 kWh battery pack, which has a 73.83 kWh useable capacity, offers a range of up to 460 km (290 mi). The iX3 has a single electric motor at the back axle that generates 210 kW (282 horsepower) and has a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time of 6.8 seconds. Its top speed is electrically constrained at 180 km/h (112 mph).
In 2021, the iX3 was made available to consumers. In September 2020, the BMW facility in Dadong, China, started producing cars. Due of the vehicle’s short range and only rear-wheel drive configuration, it won’t be offered in the United States or Canada.
It has leather seats, 19-inch bi-color wheels, adaptive flat LED headlights, and three-dimensional LED taillights. It also has a BMW Live Cockpit Professional with a 12-inch digital display and a 12-inch central touch screen.
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BMW iX3 is updated after only one year.
- In 2022, only a little over a year after the iX3 first went on sale, BMW will offer it a mid-cycle facelift.
- The RWD variant, which has a starting price of just under $80,000 in Europe, has a WLTP cycle range of 286 miles.
After less than a year on the market, BMW has unveiled an improved model of the battery-electric iX3 sport utility vehicle. The underlying X3 model, which was in need of a mid-cycle refresh anyway, was the rationale for the speedy update since the iX3 debuted well into its product cycle. As a result, the iX3 will have a more modern appearance. In a few weeks, the revised version will make its formal debut at the Munich IAA.
The drivetrain of the iX3 will remain same; it will continue to produce 281 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque from a single engine that is mounted at the back axle and gets its power from an 80-kWh cycle. That’s correct, even though this model doesn’t have all-wheel drive, its mediocre performance and 6.8-second 0 to 62 mph launch time allow for a 286-mile range according to the WLTP test.
These statistics may also explain why this vehicle is not available in the United States at all: the EPA range may seem on the mild side given the price, and the lack of all-wheel drive may limit the model’s sales potential. Although this electric vehicle starts at a frightening 67,300 euros with the ever-popular VAT, which converts to approximately $78,950 before any incentives, the price would still be comparable to a very well-equipped BMW sport utility.
It’s unclear how long such a vehicle will continue to be competitive in Europe and China, therefore it may be best to think of it as a temporary, bench-warming model until a new wave of battery-electric cars enters all SUV classes.
Despite not being intended for North America, the iX3 may nonetheless sound familiar to you. If so, you presumably have in mind the completely unrelated but similarly called iX. That specific battery-electric SUV is in fact coming to the country next year, along with the i4 Gran Coupe, which will cost just a little bit more than the iX3 but have far greater power and range. The iX has a distinctive exterior styling and a larger footprint because it was exclusively created as a battery-electric model. Early in 2022, the SUV will reach American soil.
Ramey, Jay
For his own personal use, Jay Ramey has been drawn to the more adventurous end of the reliability spectrum because he spent his childhood around really unusual European cars.
BMW iX3 unveiled with fresh appearance but no increased range
BMW introduced an electric version of the X3 for the 2021 model year, but the compact, zero-emission crossover, known as the iX3, isn’t sold in the United States.
BMW presented an upgraded iX3 on Wednesday with the identical changes made to the X3 lineup for the 2022 model year, although there are currently no plans to import it into the United States. BMW will instead present the bigger iX SUV and i4 hatchback in its electric lineup.
The additional LEDs at both ends are the most noticeable visual change on the redesigned iX3. The M Sport design kit, which includes 19-inch wheels (optional 20-inch wheels) and distinctive fascias at both ends, has also been made standard by BMW. Interior accessories like a sport steering wheel are also included in the package.
With this upgrade, the interior has been improved, and the middle stack now matches the design of the most recent 4-Series. Standard equipment includes a larger 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a screen that size acts as the infotainment center.
No changes were made to the powertrain because the iX3 wasn’t available until 2021. The system is powered by a single electric motor at the rear axle and an 80 kilowatt-hour battery. A single, scalable unit contains the motor, a single-speed transmission, and a power control unit. With a peak output of 281 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, it can go from 0 to 62 mph in 6.8 seconds.
According to the more forgiving WLTP standard, which is used in several countries, BMW claims a range of 286 miles, which translates to about 200 miles when using the EPA cycle. Around 60 miles of range can be added in just 10 minutes while charging at 150 kilowatts.
The iX3 is only produced in the BMW factory in Shenyang, China, which is run in partnership with Brilliance Auto.
At the Munich auto show in 2021, the revised version will make its global debut on September 7. Visit our dedicated site for comprehensive coverage of the show.
Report: BMW to produce the iX3 and the next-generation 3 Series EV in Mexico.
A fully electric version of the BMW 3 Series LCI G20 has already been released, but it’s only available in China as the locally made long-wheelbase i3 eDrive35L. Additionally produced there, the iX3 is only offered in a small number of countries, none of which include the United States. According to a recent story from Automotive News, the next-generation sedan and crossover with zero emissions will be built in Mexico and shipped to North America.
According to a source familiar with BMW’s plans who was cited by AN, the San Luis Potosi factory would undergo improvements. According to reports, manufacturing there will begin on the second-generation iX3 in the first half of 2027, with the sedan following in the second part of the same year. When contacted by the publication, a representative for the German luxury company declined to comment on any possible adjustments to the production schedule.
Currently, only the gasoline-powered 3 Series Sedan and 2 Series Coupe are made in Mexico, but this will change in the future. This is due to BMW CEO Oliver Zipse’s previous announcement that certain crossover production would eventually be moved to the Mexican factory. Though nothing is definite at this time, it is anticipated that the X3 will be the first X model to leave the factory. Given that the factory’s output for the previous year was just 39% of its total production capacity, there is undoubtedly opportunity for expansion.
The M2 G87, which was teased today ahead of an official unveiling in the upcoming weeks or months, will undoubtedly be the most interesting product to come from the San Luis Potosi facility in the near future.
The Neue Klasse platform, which will debut in 2025 at the future Debrecen factory in Hungary, will be shared by the following-generation 3 Series EV and the iX3. After cutting battery costs by approximately a third, according to BMW, NE-based vehicles will be just as profitable as ICE-powered vehicles. A vehicle the size of a 3 Series will be driving ahead, so either the sedan or the SUV. In 2026, the Munich facility will also begin producing dedicated EVs for sale.
IF SO, IS IT BATTERY AND OTHER MODIFIED?
The third-generation X3 lineup was completed before the iX3 was engineered. So they didn’t make many changes. The cabin remains the same. Even on the inside, its body shell isn’t much different.
This indicates that the battery is smaller than you might anticipate. Additionally, because it must hang below the floor, there is less ground clearance than with a full SUV. Legroom does not expand. It only has rear-wheel drive and has no front boot. There are a plethora of competitors with larger packs, twin-motor 4WD, and trunks. Uh oh.
And while it may look rather new, what you see here is the redesigned iX3. Before any pre-facelift models had made it to the UK, BMW announced a redesign of its exterior in August 2021. Odd. These pre-facelift vehicles were eventually given the names Premier Edition and Premier Edition Pro. The marketing team did a great job. The facelift brings a sharper front appearance, larger kidneys, and rear lights that are inspired by the 2 Series Coupe, although it doesn’t change all that much. A new gear selector and a larger infotainment screen are also included.
The BMW iX3 has a single rear-wheel drive model available for $114,900 before on-road costs, making it more affordable and offering greater range than its German archrivals.
When it debuts in November 2021, the 2022 BMW iX3 will be less expensive than the Audi e-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQC.
It costs more than $20,000 less than its German competitors, starting at $114,900 before on-road expenses. Additionally, it includes a complimentary five-year membership to the ChargeFox network of DC fast chargers.
It comes in a single rear-wheel drive configuration with a 210kW and 400Nm electric motor positioned in the rear.
Although they have all-wheel drive, the EQC and e-tron don’t have as much range as the iX3.
The iX3 has a range of 460 km on the WLTP test cycle, compared to 414 km for the EQC and between 336 km and 436 km for the e-tron, depending on the model.
With the iX3 adopting BMW’s most recent eDrive system, an integrated drive unit houses the motor, transmission, and power electronics in a single housing.
Like its X3-powered sibling, it features modernized interior and external style. The M Sport package is standard on the iX3.
It differs from the standard X3 with a distinctive grille, and blue external highlights are a free option. Unique 20-inch wheels that are allegedly more aerodynamic are also present, and the inside has blue highlights.
Additionally, an Oscar-winning composer named Hans Zimmer created a start/stop sound sequence.
According to BMW, a holistic approach to sustainability is a significant focus while creating the iX3.
When compared to the earlier battery in the i3, it has reduced the amount of raw cobalt by around a third, and it monitors compliance with social and environmental norms as part of the cobalt and lithium procurement process.
The larger iX crossover, which is based on a customized EV platform, will also be released by BMW in the fourth quarter of 2021. The 4 Series Gran Coupe-based i4 will follow in the first quarter of 2022.
BMW will now offer the X3 in gasoline, diesel, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric models thanks to the iX3.
The updated BMW iX3 is now available for purchase.
With prices starting at PS58,850, BMW’s new iX3 electric SUV is now available for purchase in the UK. To learn more, continue reading.
- The iX3 and X3’s external appearance has been updated
- two iX3 variants only available in the UK
- more basic equipment
- a 279-mile radius
- HUD and Harman Kardon sound are added by the Premier Edition Pro bundle.
- Price starts at PS58,850 for the Premier Edition iX3.
The BMW iX3 electric SUV is currently available for purchase in the UK, with prices starting from PS58,850. The Mercedes EQC and Audi e-tron are alternatives to this improved iX3.
Are BMW iX3’s sold in the USA?
The news that BMW would not be selling the iX3 in the USA in March 2020 was disappointing for American BMW fans. Reportedly, the business planned to concentrate on selling the BMW iX3 in China and Europe.
The United States does not considerably pressure manufacturers to offer electric cars, unlike China, the largest market for electric vehicles, or Europe, where there are strict fleet pollution standards. However, it does provide EV purchasers a federal EV tax credit of up to $7,500. But there’s a problem.
Internal Revenue Code Section 30D offered a tax credit of up to USD 7,500 on new PHEVs and EVs until August 15, 2022. If BMW had introduced the iX3 in the United States, this incentive would have been a huge draw for buyers. However, after August 16, 2022, when the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was passed by Congress, electric vehicles (EVs) whose final assembly was performed outside of North America are no longer qualified for federal tax credits. The change has provided BMW yet another excuse for delaying the American release of the iX3 manufactured in China.
Where it is sold, the iX3 does not generate a lot of sales. Only 37,939 units of the electrified midsize SUV were able to be sold by BMW Group in 2021. In 2021, that accounted for about 10% of X3 sales. However, compared to H1 2022 (10,009 units), sales have increased in 2022, with 21,548 units supplied in the first half of the year. The BMW iX is sold in the United States, unlike the BMW iX3.