The Neue Klasse generation of vehicles is boldly being claimed as the reinvention of the brand.
The new BMW iX3 represents a leap forward in development over its predecessor. Picture: Supplied
It’s not often that one attends a media launch of a new vehicle where the CEO of the company stands up and says it is the most important launch of a new vehicle in the history of his brand.
But this is exactly what Peter von Binsbergen, CEO of BMW South Africa, did when he introduced the all-new BMW iX3.
The brand is being reinvented
The Neue Klasse generation of vehicles is boldly being claimed as the reinvention of the brand. This is a massive statement in a world where woke makes you go broke. Just ask Jaguar.
We will see 40 new models from BMW in the next two years. If this is not an indication of a brand adapting to a new world, then I don’t know what is.
The BMW iX3
Let’s get to the vehicle itself. The BMW iX3 is an all-new-generation, fully electric SUV that brings class-leading range, fast charging, driving dynamism and digital tech to the market.
Built in Debrecen, Hungary, the first variant to roll off the production line was the iX3 50 xDrive. This is the one we drove down in the Western Cape.
Battery tech and range
The vehicle has a high-voltage 108.7 kilowatt per hour (kWh) battery with cylindrical cells and 800 volt technology powering a pair of electric motors.
Power consumption is said to vary between 17.9 and 15.1kWh per 100 kilometre and this sees range figures of 679 to 820km being claimed, as per WLTP.
I can’t comment too much after our brief media drive. But because I had more urban traffic to contend with – a BEV’s bread and butter – I can say I was close to the claimed number.
My driving partner got more of the faster open road. This is not BEV-friendly territory, so his data came in a bit higher than mine.
How we made peace with it was to say that you should hit Durban from JHB at the posted speed limits on one charge.
But we doubt that with all the climbing away from the coast, you would get back home on a single charge.
Rapid charge rates
Just as important as the range is, getting the battery charged up is equally important.
The advances brought by sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology have a significant influence on the charging experience, too.
A maximum charging rate of 400kW enables one to charge their BMW iX3 for just 10 minutes and gain 372km of range.
The only downside here is that South Africa only has three 400kW chargers for the entire country. The rest vary from 350kW all the way down to 7kW.
But, in saying this, most owners will come home and charge their vehicle on a wall box overnight.
At least you know your vehicle is future-ready and the extra 10 minutes spent at a slower public charger, while more of these big chargers roll out, won’t be such an issue on the open road.
Performance on the road
The combined output of the BMW iX3 50 xDrive is 345kW of power and 645Nm of torque.
The claims are a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 4.9 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 210km/h.
It felt every bit as quick when we drove it. Just like the latest Volvos, the pedal-to-power progression is just so smooth.
None of this jerky electric-car stuff in and around town when you touch the accelerator or when you want to join the highway.
The BMW iX3 50 xDrive is all-wheel drive, as the badge suggests, but when cruising and you don’t require all the power, the vehicle defaults to rear-wheel drive.
Punch it to get past some sleeping Cape Town drivers, the front motor kicks in and drives the front wheels, too. Grip is seemingly endless.
Rear wheel drive derivative
There is an entry-level iX3 40 coming early next year.
This rear-wheel-drive-only model will offer an 82.6kWh battery powering a single electric motor.
The rated output for this entry-level derivative is 235kW and 500Nm (Newton meter), which is not bad and accounts for a 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds and a 200km/h top speed.
Interior and tech
I simply do not have the space to detail every new feature in the interior of the BMW iX3 50 xDrive. This we will leave for when we get to spend more time withthe vehicle.
I was almost too afraid to start playing with all the buttons and settings on the fly, in case I changed something to something I didn’t like and then couldn’t get it back to the original.
What I can say is that it is a digital feast inside the vehicle.
I absolutely loved the new BMW Panoramic View, which puts all the information you need across the base of the windscreen.
It is like a Head-Up Display 2.0. What would a BMW be without iDrive?
The iX3 comes with a new digital BMW Panoramic iDrive, which is based on the likewise newly developed BMW Operating System X. Figure that out, and you can do anything inside the vehicle.
M Sport as standard
Since almost every higher end BMW is specified with an M Sport Package by the customer, BMW has made the package standard to the range.
If you want more, then you can dig into the options bin at your own cost and go for M Sport Pro Package to iX3.
If that still does not satisfy your need for individualisation, BMW M Performance Parts has a catalogue of sporty goodies for you to look at.
Pricing
- BMW iX3 50 xDrive – R1 690 000
- BMW iX3 40 – R1 498 000
