BMW iX

The marque’s highly sought-after EV (Electric Vehicle) SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle), the BMW iX, upgraded for the 2024 model year.

Fully-imported (CBU), BMW Malaysia now offers only two variants, the base-range iX xDrive50 Sport (standard), and the top-range iX M60 (performance).

Priced (OTR, w/o insurance) at MYR 465,800 and MYR 579,800, included is a standard warranty (two-years, unlimited-mileage) and a battery warranty (eight-years/160,000 KM).

For an extended warranty (BSR - BMW Service & Repair), prices increase to MYR 499,000 and MYR 613,000 (five-years/unlimited-mileage, six-years/120,000 KM service package).

Six exterior colours. Alpine White, Mineral White Metallic, Black Sapphire Metallic, Sophisto Grey Brilliant Effect Metallic, Phytonic Blue Metallic, Blue Ridge Mountain Metallic, Oxide Grey Metallic, Individual Storm Bay Metallic (MYR 6,200), and Aventurine Red Metallic (MYR 6,200).

The new iX has a flat, cascading, clean and premium built dashboard, commanded by a one-piece glass display (BMW Curved Display - infotainment, instrument cluster).

Draped in Sensatec leather (mocha, black - dash, centre console, armrests), accentuating it is the Interior Design Atelier (gold-bronze dials - dash, centre console, armrests).

Variant iX M60 upgrades to the Clear & Bold application, featuring real crystal glass for the switches. 

Optional (MYR 17,300), two upholsteries (Interior Design Suite Amido - blue, Interior Design Suite Castanea - red.

A twin setup (BMW Curved Display), installed is a 12.3-Inch LCD multi-function instrument cluster with BMW Heads-Up Display (HUD). 

The system runs the BMW Live Cockpit Professional, powered by the BMW Operating System 8.5 (BMW OS 8.5).

Interior of the five-seater gets upholsteries (mocha, black) in Sensatec synthetic leather (iX xDrive50 Sport) and natural leather (iX M60).

The seats come with seam patterns and perforation. Optional upgrades (MYR 17,300), the Interior Design Suite in Amido (blue) or Castanea (red). 

Standard, fitted up front are powered seats (multi-function adjustments, lumbar support, memory function). The rear features a bench seat (40:20:40 split-fold).

Completing the layout is a panorama glass roof (Sky Lounge) (iX M60), framed by an anthracite headliner (black), and heightening the mood is a 64-colour ambient lighting system. 

Plenty of head, shoulder, and leg rooms, providing the front and rear occupants ample mobility. The space is very generous due to the stocky and bulbous design of the body.

Mounted is a flat-bottomed two-spoke leather steering wheel, with multi-switches (media, vehicle settings), electric column adjustments (tilt, telescopic), and an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Numerous storage areas. E.g., large-sized door and seat back pockets, centre console caverned storage (with armrest) and partitioned spaces, and a decent-sized glove box.

Four cup holders, two at the front centre console and two at the rear’s centre armrest. Four bottle holders, each located at the side door pockets.

One 12-V power socket, one wireless charging pad, and two USB-C ports are located up front, while four more USB-C ports are at the back. 

Accessing its powered-tailgate (contactless, key fob), opens up to 500-Litres (seats up) and 1,750-Litres (seats down) of load capacity.

Weighing in at 2,585 KG, the new iX stands at 4,953 MM long, 1,967 MM wide, 1,696 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 3,000 MM.

Sportily stocky, it exudes an aggressive-looking front-end, featuring a large, commanding and closed-off, black vertical BMW kidney grille (polyurethane-coated).

The Sport package adds closed triangular elements with a dynamic trapezoidal-shaped central design, black trimmings, and a radiator grille graphic in chrome.

Variant iX M60 upgrades with an M Exterior Line, applying Titanium Bronze hue to the grille insert, beltline trim, side mirrors, and model badges.

Striking and dynamic, the rear-end has an angularly robust outlook, featuring colour-contrasting elements and a roof-edge spoiler on its sloping roofline.

The Sport package adds edgier geometric lines on the rear bumper, and sports it up with a body-coloured and fairly protruding diffuser.

Variant iX M60 upgrades with an M Exterior Line, applying Titanium Bronze hue to the beltline trim, and model badges.

Sharp and narrow, installed is a set of twin headlamps with dark finishing, featuring full LED units with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), automatic On/Off, and high-beam assist.

Wide-stretching and slim, the tail lamps are full LED units. The slender and wrapped-around design gives a more futuristic outlook to the very commanding back layout. 

Body-coloured, the side mirrors are electronically-powered (auto-fold, adjust) with turn- and blind spot indicators.

An Expanded Exterior Mirror Package adds an automatic anti-dazzle function and automatic parking function.

Variant iX xDrive50 Sport gets a set of standard brakes (front, rear - ventilated discs), while variant iX M60 gets a set of M Sport Brakes (front, rear - ventilated discs) with dark blue metallic callipers. 

Aiding the setup is an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold.

Variant iX xDrive50 Sport gets a set of 22-Inch aerodynamic light-alloy rims (style 1021 multi-colour 3D-polished finish), wrapped in 275/40 R22 tyres.

Variant iX M60 gets a set of 22-Inch aerodynamic light-alloy rims (style 1023 bicolour Titanium Bronze 3D-polished finish), wrapped in 275/40 R22 tyres.

The new iX features the following suites of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped under Driving Assistant Professional are Steering and Lane Control Assistant, Automatic Speed Limit Assistant, Lane Change Assistant, Distance Control (Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go), Lane Keeping Assistant, and Front and Rear Crossing Traffic Warning.

Grouped under Parking Assistant Professional are Reversing Assistant, Active Park Distance Control (PDC), Lateral Parking Aid, Surround View system (360-degree camera), Remote View 3D, Automatic Parking (parallel, perpendicular), and Manoeuvring Assistant.

Other standard systems. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), and Hill-Start Assist (HSA).

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front side, front-rear curtain), seat belts (anchor, pretensioner, reminder), ISOFIX, parking sensors (six front-rear), parking camera (reverse, 360-degree), blind spot information system, frameless interior rear-view mirror (enlarged vision), automatic anti-dazzle rear-view mirrors (interior/exterior), acoustic protection for pedestrians, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), door ajar warning, auto-speed-sensing door locks, security alarm, and immobiliser.

Seven drive modes selectable via the My Modes feature. Expressive Mode, Digital Art Mode, Efficient Mode, Relax Mode, Sport Mode, Theatre Mode and Personal Mode. 

Altering the interior ambience and the driving dynamics, it comes with the BMW Iconic Sounds Electric, featuring driving sounds composed by Hans Zimmer for every mode.

Completing the twin setup (BMW Curved Display) is a 14.9-Inch touchscreen display, running the BMW Live Cockpit Professional, powered by the BMW Operating System 8.5 (BMW OS 8.5).

Features are BMW Connected Package Professional (Apple CarPlay, Android Auto), BMW ConnectedDrive Services (intelligent emergency call, teleservices), intelligent personal assistant (voice recognition, command), Bluetooth and navigation.

The suites of ADAS will make short and long journeys less tiresome, and overall manoeuvring the fairly stocky e-SAV an easier task. 

Entertainment is channelled via a 655 W 18-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system.

On default, power surges to all four wheels (BMW eDrive Technology - fifth-generation), via the BMW Intelligent Electric All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system. 

Featured as a selectable is an Integral Active Steering system, offering a Rear-Wheel Drive setup (RWD).

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H is done in 4.6 seconds (iX xDrive50 Sport) and 3.8 seconds (iX M60). 

Top speeds are 200 KM/H (iX xDrive50 Sport) and 250 KM/H (iX M60).

Juicing the e-motors is a 111.5-KWH Lithium-Ion battery (underfloor-mounted, centre chassis), providing a total driving range (WLTP) of 630 KM (iX xDrive50 Sport) and 566 KM (iX M60).

Unchanged, AC charging (11 KW, Type 2, wallbox) takes 11 hours for a 0% to 100% State of Charge (SoC), while DC charging (195 KW, CCS2) takes 35 minutes for a 0% to 80% SoC.

Newly installed, AC charging (22 KW, Type 2) takes 5 hours and 30 minutes for a 0% to 100% SoC.

Also included, a flexible charger (Mode 2) and a public-charging cable professional (Mode 3 - 22-KW).

Incorporated in the new iX are Comfort Access system (keyless entry/BMW Digital Key Plus (key/phone/app), automatic doors, powered-tailgate (contactless, key fob), engine Start/Stop button), four-zone automatic climate control (dedicated rear controls), frameless interior rear-view mirror, automatic anti-dazzle rear-view mirrors (interior, exterior), blind-spot indicators, steering wheels (multi-function, electric column adjustments, EPS), powered front seats (multi-function adjustments, lumbar support, memory function), BMW Live Cockpit Professional, BMW MyModes, ambient lighting (64 colours), panorama glass roof (Sky Lounge) (iX M60), multiple charging outlets (devices, vehicle battery), LED interior lighting (map, floor, welcome, cargo), automatic headlamps (auto On/Off) and wipers (rain sensing, intermittent), charging flap (rear right panel - LED charging status feedback), and an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Rear air-conditioning vents with individual controls are present, located at the rear part of the centre console. 

Suspension-wise, fitted is a double wishbone (front) and multi-link (rear) setup, incorporated with the BMW Adaptive Dual-Axle Air Suspension system (M-tuned). 

Overall, it is spacious and extremely comfortable. Handling is refined and agile, and the drive quality is good with a wonderfully smooth powertrain delivery. 

Good sound insulation with most of the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. 

The cabin is able to suppress wind, road and tyre noises well and make them barely noticeable, even when cruising through bumpy asphalts.

The new BMW iX is a marvel of its class, built with a sporty and elegant outlook, offering both performance and practicality.

A striking exterior, it is well designed with the sharp yet harmonious proportions donating a powerful overall contour, emphasising its wide body scale. 

Quality of the equipment and materials installed inside of the car is also impressive with the upscale, mature design and restrained detailing. 

All in all, coupled with its dynamic and fully-electric powertrain, the 2024 iX is more than just an e-SAV, it’s an experience.