BMW iX4 Electric SUV Offers 428-Mile Range as BMW's Answer to Chinese EV Pressure
BMW's iX4 SUV offers up to 428 miles of EPA range and starts at $66,200, as BMW positions its Neue Klasse lineup against Chinese EV imports.
The iX4 is the third vehicle on BMW's next-generation Neue Klasse platform, after the iX3 and i3. The Verge reported that BMW is presenting the lineup as a bulwark against Chinese imports that have hurt other European brands. But while the iX4 competes on range and technology, The Verge noted it is unclear whether BMW can match China on affordability.
The 50 xDrive starts at $66,200 excluding destination and handling. It uses BMW's Gen6 high-voltage battery with 112.2 kWh of usable energy, an 800-volt architecture, and up to 428 miles of EPA-estimated range. That is more range than the Tesla Model Y, the world's best-selling EV, according to The Verge. The report said BMW has exceeded range expectations so much that even InsideEVs has questioned whether the capacity is overkill, while Tesla and others have succeeded with EVs in the mid-300-mile range and Lucid has struggled despite exceeding 500 miles.
BMW is also pitching performance. Both iX4 versions use dual motors. The 50 xDrive produces 463 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The M60 xDrive produces 603 hp and 645 lb-ft and reaches 60 mph one second quicker than the 50 xDrive, according to The Verge.
The rear axle uses an electrically excited synchronous motor, or EESM, as the primary drive axle. It uses electricity rather than permanent magnets to power the stator outer frame and interior spinning rotor. An inverter converts direct current from the battery into alternating current, regulates the electromagnets, and monitors performance. BMW says the combination cuts drive-system energy losses by 40 percent and weight by 10 percent, The Verge reported.
The Gen6 batteries use cylindrical lithium-ion cells measuring 46 mm in diameter and 95 mm in height. The Verge reported they provide a 20 percent increase in energy density compared with the prismatic cells in BMW's Gen5 batteries. BMW has removed traditional modules in favor of a pack-to-open-body construction in which the battery housing serves as the vehicle's underbody, lowering weight and increasing torsional rigidity.
Like Hyundai and Kia, BMW is designing its Neue Klasse EVs for faster charging. With its 800V architecture, the iX4 can accept up to 400 kW of DC fast charging, adding up to 184 miles of range in 10 minutes and charging from 10 to 80 percent in 21 minutes, according to The Verge. With a NACS charging port, it will be compatible with more than 80,000 Tesla Supercharger connectors worldwide.
The iX4 uses BMW's Panoramic iDrive infotainment system, which replaces traditional gauge clusters with a heads-up-style projection across the full width of the lower windshield. A 17.9-inch central touchscreen acts as a free-cut display, allowing drivers to drag and drop up to six widgets, such as media, weather, or navigation, directly onto the windshield display, The Verge reported.
Like the i3 and iX3, the iX4 offers bidirectional charging with vehicle-to-load and vehicle-to-home capabilities. It also has an intelligent charging flap that opens when the driver approaches a known charging point, and Plug & Charge for automatic charging at 10 different charging providers.
The Verge said the Model Y still beats the iX4 in a few categories, most notably price. It is also a bit quicker off the line and offers Full Self-Driving (Supervised). BMW offers a Level 2 system called Symbiotic Drive, which it describes as designed for fluid, intuitive interaction; drivers can adjust steering or brake without canceling automated functions. The iX4 allows hands-free driving on the highway, but not point-to-point assisted driving.