BMW Reveals All-Electric iX3 Crossover for Europe and China

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

Like nearly every automaker, BMW has big plans for an electrified future. At the moment, BMW's on the back foot with its electric vehicles, as the automaker only offers the sporty i8 and the urban i3. But that's going to change soon, as the German automaker finally unveiled the iX3 in full this month. While the iX3 won't be sold in America, it's only going to China (where it's built) and Europe, it's still a momentous vehicle for the brand.


New iX3 Finally Arrives


The iX3 is based on the compact X3 crossover that BMW sells in the U.S., so it's roughly the same size as the Tesla Model Y. Still, BMW managed to fit an 80-kWh battery pack into the SUV, which results in a range of 285 miles on the new WLTP cycle. Since it's not coming to the U.S., there's no reason to speculate how much that would be on the EPA's cycle, but it wouldn't nearly be as high.


Power comes from a single electric motor that's mounted on the rear axle. It produces 282 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. As far as pep goes, the iX3 can go from zero to 62 mph in roughly 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 112 mph. Hans Zimmer, the famous German film score composer, came out with a custom driving noise for the electric crossover, too. BMW claims the iX3 can support an all-wheel-drive, dual-motor configuration, but for the moment, the electric crossover is rear-wheel drive only.


The battery pack can handle being charged at 150-kW, which allows it to go from zero percent to 80 percent in roughly 34 minutes. A range of 62 miles can be regained in as little as 10 minutes when plugged into a charger with that kind of output. One pedal driving is available for drivers that want to get some fuel economy back while moving.


Why The iX3 Is Important


For BMW, the iX3 is an important vehicle. Its underpinnings will be used on a few of its future electric vehicles, including the upcoming i4 sedan and the iNext SUV. It also gives BMW a direct competitor to the Tesla Model Y, Audi e-tron, Jaguar I-Pace, and Mercedes-Benz EQC. For BMW's first attempt at an electric crossover, the iX3 has a competitive amount of range.


The iX3 has been a long wait for BMW, which showed a lot of promise by coming out with the i8 and the i3 before any other traditional automaker began even thinking about futuristic powertrains. BMW changed its mind on bringing the iX3 to America this March. The lack of all-wheel drive, the introduction of tariffs, and the lack of strong sales in the country all could've swayed BMW's decision. By 2025, BMW plans to introduce 12 all-electric models.

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods