Tech

BMW all-electric SUV with 300-mile range is a template for the future

The iX SUV has a minimal design and acts as a template for future BMW electric vehicles.

BMW wants a piece of the electric vehicle pie.

The auto giant recently unveiled the iX SUV, formerly known as the iNext, an all-electric "sports activity vehicle" (read: SUV) which will act as a sort of template for future electric vehicles produced by BMW.

If you're a fan of German cars, chances are you'll like how this thing looks.

Do we love or hate the kidney grill?

Sleek minimalist design isn't the only thing the iX has to offer. The iX is using BMW's new scalable electric vehicle technology, which is essentially a template from which the company can make vehicles of different sizes. This is the "fifth-generation" of its e-drive technology and encompasses the SUV's electric motors, electronics, charging technology, and high-voltage battery.

“We are setting new industry standards with the technology in the BMW iX. The iX has more computing power for data processing and more powerful sensor technology than the newest vehicles in our current line-up, is 5G-capable, will be given new and improved automated driving and parking functions, and uses the high-performing fifth generation of our electric drive system.”

Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development.

11 hrs

BMW says that the SUV's battery can be charge from 0 to 100 percent in less than 11 hours.

300 miles

The iX also gets 300 miles of range in a single charge.

Despite its new scalable technology platform, notably absent from the iX is any self-driving technology. According to BMW, it has, however, bolstered its onboard computing power to process 20 times the data of previous models. That translates to double the amount of vehicle sensor data than prior models, the company says.

BMW is pretty clear about the fact that its technology is definitely paving the way for more automated driving and parking features in the future, though it didn't really offer anything in the way of specifics on when those might arrive. It also didn't offer any specifics on price.

The iX SUV is a pretty pared down EV compared to some of the far-out concepts proposed in BMW's original iNext concept. No touch-sensitive fabrics or projected screens to be found.

Driverless technology or not, the iX looks like a pretty cohesive and encouraging step for BMW's future EVs, especially if you're a prospective buyer with some extra money and enough charging stations in your vicinity. Alternatively, you'll likely be able to pay a little extra to get a fast charger installed in your garage.

2021

The iX will be released in Europe at the end of 2021 and hit the U.S. in early 2022.