Jackson Chen

Tech

BMW’s iX1 electric SUV could be its most affordable EV yet

The compact SUV’s initial specs show 313 horsepower and up to 272 miles miles of range.

BMW iX1
BMW

BMW finally announced its first-ever compact electric SUV, the iX1, which is an electrified version of its X1. Since the EV largely borrows from the X1 design, we’re also hoping that it will mirror the current price tag of $35,400.

BMW

BMW already has a couple EVs on the market, but they’re firmly in the mid or higher price range. Looking at BMW’s iX SUV that was released last year, it retails for $83,200. Even its i4 sedan starts at $55,400.

BMW

Entry-level EV

To have an electric BMW cost below $40,000 is a big step in attracting more people to EVs. BMW even said they are looking to make EVs “accessible to a very wide target audience.”

BMW

The iX1 has two electric motors, giving it up to 313 horsepower and 364 pound/feet of torque. The iX1 can hit 0 to 100 km/h, or roughly 62 mph, in 5.7 seconds.

The 64.7kWh battery found beneath the iX1’s underbody offers a range of up to 272 miles.

BMW

Fast charging

The battery can be charged up to 130kW by DC or 11kW through AC, with 10 minutes giving you roughly 75 miles of range. BMW also said that you can get from 10 to 80 percent charge in 29 minutes through DC charging.

BMW

The iX1 keeps a very similar look to the traditional gas model it’s based on, but offers some slight changes in the headlights and rear lights. Of course, there’s the bright blue accent that wraps around the SUV that clearly denotes that it’s an electric vehicle.

BMW

We’re not sure exactly when BMW is releasing the iX1, only that it will come out after the release of two diesel and two petrol models of the X1 in October.

There’s no exact pricing details either, but the iX1 could be in the ballpark of the X1’s current price at $35,400.

BMW

Unfortunately, the iX1 may not be coming to the U.S. anytime soon, according to a BMW spokesperson who spoke to Carscoops.

If it does well in European markets, hopefully BMW will take advantage of Americans’ obsession with SUVs and introduce the iX1 to the North American market.

BMW

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