What's the news?
In Beijing this week, at the Auto China 2018 motor show, BMW is previewing a key new car of the future. The Concept iX3, unsurprisingly, is a good indication of how the showroom-ready BMW iX3 will look when it launches in 2019. The all-electric SUV will pack BMW's latest generation EV technology enabling super-fast charging and a useful range between battery charges.
Exterior
The Beijing concept is our first indication that BMW will visually differentiate the iX3 from regular BMW X3 variants. Blue accents on the BMW roundels and extra 'i' badging are complemented by aerodynamic new alloy wheels and bumpers, more blue trim at the rear and sides and a distinctive take on the BMW kidney grilles, which are blanked off of course, as there's no engine behind to cool. We expect most of these measures to make it through to production.
Mechanicals
BMW hasn't totally given the game away in terms of the BMW iX3's powertrain, but a few salient details have been released. First up, the iX3 will be the first BMW to use the company's fifth-generation electric motor package, which packs an upgraded 200kW/270hp motor, transmission and power electronics into a single unit, optimised for space and weight. That makes us think the iX3 will be two-wheel drive only. The battery pack is new too, and apparently of high voltage. It has a net energy capacity of 70kWh, which is enough, on the new WLTP test cycle, to drive more than 400 kilometres between charges, according to BMW. A new Charging Control Unit allows the iX3 to be plugged into fast-charging stations up to 150kW, which theoretically would allow a full charge in just 30 minutes.
Anything else?
The BMW iX3 is borne of a new strategy within the BMW Group that focuses on scalable components and flexible production. The intention is for all vehicle architectures of the future from the Group (and all factories producing those vehicles) to have the capability to accommodate traditional combustion power, plugin hybrid or pure electric propulsion with minimal changes, depending on market demand.
It has already been confirmed that the BMW iX3 will go on sale to the public in 2019.