Driving a bmw iX briefly in Singapore has left our kids with a lot to think about, including whether they should spend more time this year to be less naughty and friendly...
HERE COMES BMW's most advanced electric vehicle (EV), the BMW iX. We first covered the car extensively in its international announcements, then made its debut at the EV Weekend, which debuted in Singapore for electric vehicles.
But now our Derryn (above, right) and Ju-Len have finally made a brief try on the iX, which brings the BMW i back to the forefront of electric vehicle technology. That's what our resident gargoyle had to say.
Derryn: First of all, the iX is one of those cars that definitely looks better in the flesh. When BMW said it was building its new electric vehicle flagship into an SUV, it seemed plausible, but then I looked at the photos and asked, "What?" But now that we've seen it with our own eyes, it looks like an oversized i3, and it may still not be everyone's favorite, but it bodes well for something to come.
Ju-Len: Yeah, I have to say iX doesn't shoot well. But from a physical point of view, its presence is very strong, and it is a very eye-catching car. Seeing it in real life also brings out subtleties. The wheel arches look precise, everyone seems to love the recessed door openers, and these curves do smooth the edges of the car. I checked the specs and it's slightly longer than the BMW X5, slightly narrower but not that tall, so it's spectacular, but not just a huge box. I think it's pretty much the biggest electric SUV sold here right now, and it looks like nothing else.
Derryn: Yeah, that's one of the things I miss about the BMW i – you really feel like you're driving the future with the BMW i3 and i8. The interior also has the lounge-like feel of the i3. You can really feel the open layout of the whole electric car, the flat floor provides enough space for the feet, those big and luxurious front seats that look like armchairs. But BMW has turned up the luxury dial, so if the i3 is a regular lounge, then this one definitely feels like an executive lounge.
Ju-Len: That's what impressed me about iX, at least. Crystal iDrive knobs and transmission selector, plus seat adjuster switches, all look and feel very luxurious. The wooden panels with tactile switches are an upgrade to the shiny, fingerprint-collecting black plastic that everyone uses today.
But I have to say that BMW feels more like a new luxury than the old school. I like that you press a button and the electrochromic roof changes its opacity.
Derryn: And you can't miss the screen — a yuuuge 14.9-inch central touchscreen display, and a 12.3-inch driving gauge. It's the first thing you see when you enter, and they install it as well as a piece of furniture. Notice how it bends gently so you can see it correctly from the driver's seat?
Ju-Len: It does look sharp, and the surface is obviously oil-thinning, so after you choose which podcast to play, it's not going to be a mess of fingerprints. Graphics rendering is also very smooth and fast. BMW says the iX has the most powerful system processor ever, which is a believable claim.
But even though the interface of BMW OS8 looks great, I really find it confusing relative to OS7. You have to look for the features you want, and the tiled layout is much busier than before. I guess more screen real estate equals more stuff to see and figure out.
Derryn: It's one of the things that you really have to live with a car to see how it works. So unless BMW gives us a long test drive, we won't make any judgments. Or will Santa Claus deliver one at the CarBuyer HQ? We don't have a chance, don't we...
Ju-Len: Look, if I were Santa Claus, I'd keep an iX for myself! As good as the cabin, the real treat is the way it's driven. It's very delicate in its movement, and even though it doesn't have fancy air springs, the suspension does hover between tight handling and a comfortable ride, don't you think?
Derryn: The chassis staff did a great job, that's for sure. This is the xDrive40 version, so it has 326 horsepower, which isn't actually much, but the peak torque is 630 Newton meters. I kind of like that BMW doesn't overdo it because while fast acceleration is always fun, we really don't need to use it in heavy-duty vehicles. I think iX is just right, fast and responsive enough to handle urban traffic without being overwhelmed.
Ju-Len: Not me. I don't think less is more. More is more! 6.1 seconds to 100 km/h is enough on paper, though I'd say iX feels faster than that. It is now impossible to beat the immediacy of electrons.
But the xDrive50 and M60 versions will be available next year, so if you're an acceleration fan, that's it. Given my first impression of the chassis, I don't want them to feel too powerful, but I do want them to maintain the general comfort we experienced in the iX xDrive40.
Derryn: They let us drive for over an hour, but honestly, I could spend the whole day in a car like this. That's also good because it has its range. Theoretically, you can travel up to 426 kilometers on a single charge, what's good for that? I think this is feasible in real life.
The battery isn't big, only 71kWh, but we've never seen more than 18kWh/100km on a road computer, right? We may need to spend more time investigating this issue, but I think you should consider charging your iX once a week.
Ju-Len: Sure, while home charging is still the best way to do things, I think if you stop at a mall with a 50kW DC charger every week, have a relaxing meal, maybe go shopping, you can run the iX without problems.
Derryn: This brings up some interesting things: Buying the iX now, you can obviously choose between an installed home charger or three years of energy worth 10,000 kWh, which BMW says can travel about 50,000 kilometers. I wonder what iX buyers will end up choosing?
Ju-Len: Plus 6-year free repair, 5-year warranty, and 8-year battery warranty. It's as good as owning a car.
Derryn: Okay, let's wrap it up. The iX has a striking exterior, a luxurious interior, and a spacious feel, and I was impressed by how it felt during our brief drive. It should also be good to have it. Am I missing anything?
Julen: Yes. This is futuristic. I know electric cars are everywhere these days, but the iX does feel like a different kind of car, or at least a different BMW. Buy it and you'll almost certainly be the first person in the block to own it, which can be half the appeal for some buyers. Driving this, I think you'll feel like you've left your neighbors and the burning times behind.