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After the i4 M50, BMW M presents its second sporty version of an electric car. It is the turn of the iX SUV to benefit from the M treatment with an M60 version developing up to 455 kW (619 hp) and 1,100 Nm of torque.
The German premiums are often criticized for making ever bigger, ever heavier and ever more powerful, especially in their electrification strategy – we can however make an exception of the BMW i3. Their electric cars cannot compete with Tesla in terms of consumption, resulting in just correct autonomy with high capacity batteries.
At CES 2022, Mercedes, however, sent a message of hope to its detractors by presenting the Vision EQXX, an electric concept focusing on its aerodynamics and its relative lightness to achieve a theoretical consumption of less than 10 kWh / 100 km. However, BMW does not seem to have followed its eternal rival on this path, given the vehicle presented by the brand to the propeller at CES.
Thus, it is a new M60 version of its iX electric SUV, measuring almost 5 m in length, that BMW has brought to Las Vegas. This version is signed BMW M, the sports branch of the manufacturer who had already unveiled an M50 version of the i4 electric sedan. It therefore comes to cap the range of the iX until then composed of xDrive40 and xDrive50.
A real panzer
In terms of style, this M60 version differs little from the classic iX already strong in personality, at the risk of not being unanimous. Only a few black and Titanbronze details, specific rims, blue calipers and M logos betray this sporty version.
Despite the use of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), the iX is no ballerina. The mass of this version is not specified, given that the iX xDrive50 exceeds 2.5 t. However, this is also the case with its main rivals.
Contrary to what its panzer look might suggest, the iX M60 benefits from an honorable drag coefficient of 0.26 in Sport mode, the latter acting in particular on the air suspension. To provide dynamism and facilitate maneuvering, the rear wheels are also steered.
Like the other versions of the SUV, the iX M60 has two electric motors. They develop a maximum cumulative power of 397 kW (540 hp) and a torque of 1015 Nm, i.e. 12 kW (16 hp) and 250 Nm more than the xDrive50 version. The maximum power can even occasionally rise to 455 kW (619 hp), for a duration of 10 s, and the Launch Control mode allows to obtain a torque of 1100 Nm. BMW expects that its iX M60 will be able to shoot down the 0 to 100 km / h in just 3.8 s, its top speed being announced at 250 km / h.
This version uses the 105.2 kWh useful battery (111.5 kWh total capacity) of the iX xDrive50. The consumption of this sporty version is however a little higher, giving the iX M60 a maximum range of 566 km estimated by BMW on the WLTP cycle, against 630 km for the xDrive50 version, which is relatively sober for such a vehicle. Recharging can take place up to 200 kW in direct current, allowing to go from 10 to 80% of charge in 35 minutes according to BMW.
The BMW iX M60 is already available to order at a price of € 132,000 for first deliveries in June 2022. It will notably have to compete with the Tesla Model X, whose technical sheet is quite close in its new version. basic ”, but not yet available. There will also be an even bigger Plaid version.