BMW reveals iX3 range, charging details

BMW is preparing to launch its most important EV yet and it's kicking off the hype campaign. The upcoming BMW iX3 is promised to be a complete rethinking of what an electric car can be.

Built on the dedicated EV platform called the "Neue Klasse," or "New Class," it won't share the compromises of its predecessors, adapted from gasoline-powered cars. This is a ground-up electric vehicle, and it brings a suite of technologies that promise to redefine the driving experience.

At the core of the iX3 is what BMW affectionately calls the "Heart of Joy." In most modern cars, dozens of separate computers manage everything from the brakes to the radio. The Neue Klasse approach gets rid of them. Instead, one central brain controls nearly every function, eliminating the lag that occurs when different systems have to communicate with each other.

A group of journalists got a chance to review the iX3 prototypes and they agree the one-pedal driving mode is quite refined as well.

The iX3 will feature BMW's 6th generation battery technology, with a pack size expected to be around 100 kWh. It apparently will deliver an impressive range of approximately 400 miles on the stringent American EPA cycle, with European WLTP estimates reaching as high as 497 miles. Powering the SUV are dual motors producing a combined 400 horsepower, ensuring that performance matches its technological prowess.

The iX3 is built on an 800V architecture and is rated for a maximum charging speed of 400 kW. During a demonstration at the company's test facility in France, a pre-production model exceeded that, hitting a peak of 403 kW. In practical terms, this allows the iX3 to add over 217 miles of range in just 10 minutes. This level of speed significantly closes the convenience gap between recharging an EV and refueling a conventional car.

Inside, the innovation continues with a radical new user interface called BMW Panoramic iDrive. The traditional instrument cluster is gone, replaced by "BMW Panoramic Vision," a display projected across the entire width of the windshield's base. This keeps crucial information in the driver's line of sight. An optional 3D Head-Up Display can project navigation and other data seemingly onto the road ahead.

In the center of the dashboard sits an unusual rhomboid touchscreen, while the steering wheel features "shy-tech" buttons that only illuminate when active, providing haptic feedback for intuitive use without taking your eyes off the road. Let's hope that BMW, unlike Volkswagen, has worked some magic into this solution.

Two significant questions remain: its final appearance and its price. Though seen only in camouflage, the production iX3 is expected to closely mirror the bold design of the Vision Neue Klasse X concept car. As for cost, BMW is navigating a tricky path.

The iX3 is positioned to be the electric counterpart to the X3, which starts around $50,000 in the US. But at the same time, it offers more range and technology than the larger BMW iX, which starts at $75,000. This places the iX3 in a wide price window, making its final sticker price one of the most anticipated details ahead of its launch.

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