The new BMW iX3 is brainier than you

BMW has been building electric cars for a while now – and good ones, too. Indeed, the outgoing iX3 remains a very popular model despite it being effectively superseded by an entirely new generation of X3. These are all hybrids, though, while this new iX3 – or at least the one lurking under the disguise – is an all-new pure electric version previously teased as the Vision Neue Klasse X but confirmed for sale as the iX3 from later this year. And … it’s clever. Really clever. So clever it has four ‘superbrains’ onboard to control all its many and various features.
• New iX3 has been developed from the start as an electric car, not adapted from a combustion-engined one like the previous generation • Confusingly, although it carries the X3 name it’s a totally different car from the latest hybrid version you can already buy • Next generation battery and motors mean the iX3 50 xDrive will go just shy of 500 miles on a charge • Your home charger probably won’t support this (yet) but the iX3 will be able to operate as a giant power bank for your home, putting power back into the grid when the battery isn’t needed for driving • Innovative interior projects essential driver info onto a black pane running the full width of the interior below the windscreen – there’s also a regular central screen, driver display and head up display (HUD) depending on the trim level • unlike the last one it’s a model in its own right rather than just an electrified version of a car designed for combustion engines • Four ‘Superbrain’ computer systems control everything from interior functions to next-level assisted driving features that work in town and on the motorway • Bottom-line pricing starts just shy of £60,000 for the twin-motor iX3 50 xDrive, with more affordable versions to follow

We were lucky enough to get a sneak preview of the iX3 before the covers were pulled off and the camouflage livery was peeled away and, in the metal, it’s a handsome thing. Hints of the iX in the proportions give it a modern twist, while the illuminated Neue Klasse grille is a much more elegant twist on recent interpretations of BMW’s classic kidney grille on models like the i4. We’ll call it a tactful nod to BMW’s aesthetic traditions, without falling into the trap of going full retro. The range launches with the twin-motor iX3 50 xDrive in standard, M Sport and M Sport Pro trim levels, though the standard spec already looks good, with 20-inch wheels, the 3D glass grille, heated seats, power tail gate and much, much more.

Having had the chance to sit in the iX3 ahead of its unveiling we can report the interior is every bit as stylish, premium and high-tech as we’d hoped. While there’s a big fuss being made about the new Operating System X and Panoramic Vision display running the width of the dashboard – and its interaction with the conventional central screen and driver display – we were as relieved as anyone to see physical controls for basics like volume and ventilation have been maintained. Nor has gadgetry been introduced for the sake of it, the chief designer telling us they stuck with conventional mirrors for the fact switching to camera-based systems like some rivals “just moves the problem elsewhere” given you then need to find somewhere for the displays. Beyond that the menus and interfaces have been cleaned up, with a reduction in fiddly icons and more customisable features where you can pre-set your preferred seat position, ventilation and safety alert levels and initiate them with one press when you pull away.

The 500-mile official range is a headline-grabbing feature for the iX3 50 xDrive, and even if (as usually happens) the real-world distance is somewhat less it’ll still be up there with the best in its field. While there are more powerful rivals the 469 horsepower output is more than enough to be going on with, ditto the fact it can hit 0-62mph in less than five seconds. An 800V architecture charging at up to 400kW means you can – theoretically – add 231 miles of range in just 10 minutes if you can find a charger powerful enough. Even on existing infrastructure you’ll be able to add a good chunk in as much time as it takes to grab a coffee and go for a comfort break, making long-distance drives a breeze. The battery itself is integrated into the car’s structure and has, apparently, a fifth higher power density than before while the ‘Gen6’ motor units are lighter, cheaper and make better use of their power. The Superbrain of Automated Driving (BMW’s capitalisation…) meanwhile controls the next-level driving assistance features which, where regulations permit, promise hands-off driving on the motorway and extra assistance around town. Another superbrain – this one with the weirdly sinister sounding name Heart of Joy – meanwhile controls the motors, braking, steering and more.

The iX3 launches with the 50 xDrive at a starting price just shy of £60,000, progressing through M Sport and M Sport Pro trim levels. Sales are meant to be starting before the end of the year, though we might have to wait a bit longer here in the UK.

The Neue Klasse is the one for BMW this year, and will form the basis for its entire future generation of cars. So, kind of a big deal. Given the domination of SUVs in the market it’s little surprise to see the iX3 as the first, with the saloon likely to follow.

Electrified mid-size SUVs are the key battleground for manufacturers right now, and the iX3 launches into a fiercely competitive sector. Looking ahead Volvo’s EX60 will likely be a key rival, and we’ll be seeing what it has to offer when it’s unveiled in January.