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| BMW iX review Gadgets 36T |
WHAT IS IT?
The controversy never leaves BMW's doorstep these days,
but arguably the unveiling of the iX as an iNext concept in 2018 marked the
start of the latest WTAF? Phase. It says a lot that a few years later we find
iX to be acceptable. It's not good, remember.never good But we've come to terms
with that. The bandwidth of online hate that once connected entire server farms
is now reserved for M2, i7,
XM...
We have to go on.
iX is considered the flagship product of the company. Standing outside
the usual X5, X6, X7 hierarchy, it tries to differentiate itself from other
two-and-a-half-ton SUVs by looking more like a jewel and classy inside, more
like a sedan than a car. Here the technology is in the foreground. you have
been warned
WHAT IS THE REALITY?
Well it doesn't pretend to be an impossible thing, a
sporty SUV, so that's more of the problem. The front end is hands down the
ugliest, but the iX spec without the M Sport package (base version only...)
avoids those awful black trapezoids under the headlights. They're part of a
questionable "aero package" that doesn't reduce drag at all. Now this massive no-grid is
covered in plastic that repairs itself if scratched.Maybe BMW expects physical
attacks. May we suggest Sinex nasal spray?
AND THE CABIN?
Hardly any equipment can be recognized from another BMW.
It's as distinctive as the i3's cabin and was designed to create the same type
of ambiance - a showroom, not a car.Unusual materials include matte wood with
translucent backlit graphics, optional recycled denim-like fabric, and a glass iDrive button. Straight
and diagonal lines dominate. OK, your
living room might not be like that. But your stay certainly has
nothing to do with the X5 cabin. Overall it's not as successful as the i3,
but the i3 didn't sell well enough,
which is why the iX is mostly shaped like an SUV.
WHAT'S HAPPENING BELOW?
Flat floor, long wheelbase and more space in width. This
also makes it awkward outdoors. Like the i3 and i8, this is a fully customized
version. The cabin is integrated into a three-dimensional carbon fiber
frame.There is also a lot of aluminum in it. None of that is shared with the
X5. But the motors, battery design and
high-voltage electronics are modular versions of what was used in the
iX3 and i4. These electric powertrain parts are ugly, hidden and most of us
don't know how they work. But they are critical to an electric vehicle's efficiency, how
smoothly it runs and how quickly it charges.
SO IT'S ELECTRIC. REQUEST STATISTICS.
There are currently three versions. They're both AWD
engines, so put the xDrive prefix in their full names. The xDrive 40 has a
usable capacity of 71 kWh, which equates to a range of 257 WLTP miles.The
XDrive 50 has 105.2 kWh, giving it a range of 380 miles on standard 21-inch wheels. There's also the
flagship xDrive M60 (the first time the three worlds M, X and I collided), which uses a battery
from the 1950s but has an extra 100hp at 619hp and 0-100km/h acceleration added
in 3.8 seconds. Because it speeds up your stay so quickly.
In comparison, the iX 40 has 326 hp and can accelerate to
160 km/h in 6.1 seconds, while the 523 hp iX 50 takes 4.6 seconds. It doesn't
involve you much in the process.But the calibration of all the controls is
intuitive, so very satisfying. Steering is precise, acceleration is smooth and
quick, and the weight is good enough. The
has a sport mode, but who cares, and why would you? This car is comfort, calm and relaxation. Which begs the question of why BMW hasn't just
focused on that, because we're going to let you in on a secret.The slower iXs
are much better on their own than the fast ones.
All versions drive well enough, but it's the 40 with the
less rushed and less timid gearbox that makes the most sense and works the
best. The M60 just has too much power to handle smoothly. It can trigger.
WHAT IS THE STORY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?
Well... the motors are
electrically excited, synchronous (remember when we talked about
camshafts and things like that?). A big advantage is that they can produce a
lot of torque up to high revs and they are good at it.
Because they don't have
magnets, they don't use rare earths, one of Earth's resources whose
scarcity threatens electric vehicles. BMW
also strives to use a small amount of cobalt and to source it traceably.
Renewable energy is used to build the strong carbon fiber body frame and power
the battery cell factories and iX
assembly plant.There is also a lot of aluminum in cars, half of which is
recycled.
leather is sustainably tanned using olive leaves instead
of some of the usual harmful chemicals. The mat is made from partially recycled
ocean plastic. One of the lining options is wool (therefore not vegan) with
recycled polyester. Independent testing by TÜV showed that the overall carbon
footprint was 45% lower than the X5.Hmm, maybe another huge SUV isn't the best
point of reference, guys.
WHAT IS THE JUDGMENT?
"iX is a big and comfortable house on wheels, with
lots of technology and an impressive range" a versatile electric car as an
example of its best work on materials, aerodynamics and driver assistance
systems. He does not sell the BMW
as a master driver. If you want a traditional BMW
electric sports sedan, the i4 is your car (just don't expect it to be as
immersive as the 330e.And don't expect it to drive as responsively as the
M3). iX is a large, comfortable home on
wheels packed with technology to put drivers at ease while passengers relax. That's efficient for a
full-fledged e-SUV. The autonomy is impressive and charging is quite fast.
Choose from packs
of styling, wheel and paint options.How to find an iX that you like the look of. There's a lot more to love
as long as you realize this is a car designed to be driven in comfort.
