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2022 BMW iX electric SUV: Two variants bound for Australia with 370kW range-topper

Details of the 2022 BMW iX's powertrain range have been released, ahead of the new electric SUV's Australian launch in the fourth quarter of 2021.


Buyers of the iX will be presented with a choice of two battery and electric motor options: the entry-level xDrive40, and the flagship (at launch, at least) xDrive50.

While a range of specifications have been released by BMW, it's worth noting they have been marked as estimated figures, with final numbers to be confirmed closer to the start of production, expected to commence in July 2021.

Opening the launch line-up is the xDrive40, mating two electric motors with a lithium-ion battery offering "over" 70kWh of gross energy capacity, good for a power output of 240kW, and a sub-6.0-second 0-100km/h sprint time.

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Maximum driving range according to Europe's WLTP test cycle sits at "over" 400km, according to BMW, with a combined energy consumption rating of less than 20kWh per 100 kilometres claimed.

Stepping up to the iX xDrive50 – the model announced at the SUV's unveiling in November 2020 – BMW says the variant brings over 370kW from a larger 100kWh-plus battery pack, enabling a sub-5.0-second dash from zero to 100km/h, a WLTP range of over 600km, and combined energy consumption of under 21kWh/100km.

DC fast charging is standard on both variants, at a rate of up to 150kW in the xDrive40, or 200kW in the xDrive50. A 10-minute stint on a DC charger is said to add up to 90km and 120km of range to the 40 and 50's batteries respectively, with both models capable of a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 40 minutes.

Reports also suggest a flagship, performance-focused iX M60 model will enter production in March 2022, with a 418kW version of the xDrive50's powertrain.

Alongside performance details of the range, BMW confirmed the new iX would employ a number of sustainable materials through its construction, including up to 60kg of recycled plastic.

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Recovered fishing nets will be used in the floor mats, rare-earth materials have been omitted from the electric motors, cobalt and lithium for the batteries are sourced ethically from "controlled" mines in Australia and Morocco, while the interior features FSC-certified wood, olive leaf extract-tanned leather, and other naturally-sourced materials.

The BMW iX will debut the brand's new iDrive 8 infotainment system, combining a 12.3-inch instrument display and a 14.9-inch central touchscreen into a single curved panel.

Underpinning the new iDrive system – and the car's wider electronics and autonomous driving systems – is an advanced "technology toolkit", with 5G capabilities and upgraded computing power capable of processing 20 times more data than previous BMW models.

The 2022 BMW iX will go on sale in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2021 (October to December inclusive). Local pricing and specifications will be announced closer to launch.

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Alex Misoyannis

Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.

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