BMW’s all-electric SUV, the iX3, is slated for premiere in 2020, but some of its features are no longer a secret.
As you remember, BMW promised us over 400 kilometers (250+ miles) of WLTP-rated driving range when it unveiled the iX3 Concept. This has been narrowed down to a precise number: 440 km (274 miles). The battery will store up to 74 kilowatt-hours of juice, and the powertrain will max out at 286 horsepower (213 kilowatts).
Unlike its numerous AWD rivals, the iX3 will pack a single electric motor mounted on its rear axle. A dual-engine AWD variant might emerge later, but this is not official.
BMW especially prides itself on the fact that it has designed the eDrive engine in house, from the ground up, without attracting any third parties. It has also succeeded in making it fairly power-efficient and thus keeping the battery size down.
Once the IX3 comes out, the X3 SUV line will become BMW’s first line to boast the full range of popular drivetrain options: gasoline, diesel, hybrid, and electric.