While Audi and Mercedes-Benz are already selling their premium electric SUVs, BMW still hasn’t begun production of the iX3, its own contender in the niche.
According to the automaker, production will commence in 2020 at the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture in Shenyang, China. While no precise date has been made public, the company has revealed preliminary specifications for the iX3, which will be the first model to use the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology, with the i4 and iNext EVs to follow in 2021.
With its first all-electric SUV, the automaker places emphasis not so much on battery size but rather on higher efficiency. The electric compact utility vehicle packs a high-voltage battery with a net energy content of 74 kWh that enables it to cover more than 440 km (273 miles) in the WLTP test cycle.
Related: BMW’s i4 Has More Power Than The M3 At 523 HP, Can Charge Up To 80% In 35 Minutes
BMW also claims the iX3 boasts a low power consumption of less than 20 kWh/100 km (WLTP), allowing it to achieve a range previously possible only with larger (and heavier) batteries.
The battery feeds an electric motor delivering a maximum power output of 286 PS (282 HP / 210 kW) and a peak torque of 400 Nm (295 lb-ft). Located in a central housing along with the system electronics and transmission, the motor drives the rear wheels, allowing for a typical BMW driving experience.
The carmaker says the ratio between motor output and weight of the drive system improves around 30 percent compared to the previous eDrive generation. No performance specs are available yet, but the iX3 is said to deliver “high initial acceleration.”
Finally, the BMW iX3 doesn’t demand any concessions on practicality, offering the same amount of space for passengers and luggage as the ICE-powered X3 thanks to the battery unit being installed in an extremely flat position in the vehicle floor.
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