Photo: CarPix
The first-ever electric SUV wearing the blue and white roundel is still a toddler of the BMW lineup in the grand scheme of things. It was introduced only about six months ago, yet the Bavarians are already testing its mid-cycle refresh.
Called LCI (Life Cycle Impulse) in BMW-speak, the BMW iX3’s facelift is coming a lot earlier than many people expected, but don’t think of it as a rushed job.
As you probably know, BMW’s first electric SUV is not even a re-bodied X3 in the same sense as the Mercedes-Benz EQC is a re-bodied GLC-Class; it is just a slightly redesigned X3 with its ICE and fuel tank replaced by an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery.
While its two main rivals, the EQC and the Audi e-tron, make do with all-wheel-drive and dual or even triple motors, the BMW iX3 simply settled for better range instead of power.
That strategy might suffer a few changes once the iX3 LCI hits the market at the end of 2021 or early 2022, though. That's because BMW is expected to also develop a dual-motor version of the model.
As a matter of fact, the latest spy photos of a pre-production prototype do seem to show a car with some M Performance design features. Plus, judging by the snowy scenery in northern Sweden, we may be looking at the dual-motor iX3 M Performance.
The powertrains will likely be shared with the upcoming BMW i4 M Performance, which may or may not be getting a 600+ horsepower total output from two permanent-magnet motors, unlike the regular i4, which only has one powerfult motor.
The 460-km (285-mile) range of the current single-motor model will likely decrease slightly on the iX3 M Performance, but the improved specs will definitely find enough extra customers to balance the situation.
Since it will come as part of a facelift, the electric SUV will get some of the same design upgrades as the regular X3 and X4, including new headlights and taillights, new shapes for the bumpers, and even an all-new interior with the latest evolution of the iDrive infotainment system.
As you probably know, BMW’s first electric SUV is not even a re-bodied X3 in the same sense as the Mercedes-Benz EQC is a re-bodied GLC-Class; it is just a slightly redesigned X3 with its ICE and fuel tank replaced by an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery.
While its two main rivals, the EQC and the Audi e-tron, make do with all-wheel-drive and dual or even triple motors, the BMW iX3 simply settled for better range instead of power.
That strategy might suffer a few changes once the iX3 LCI hits the market at the end of 2021 or early 2022, though. That's because BMW is expected to also develop a dual-motor version of the model.
As a matter of fact, the latest spy photos of a pre-production prototype do seem to show a car with some M Performance design features. Plus, judging by the snowy scenery in northern Sweden, we may be looking at the dual-motor iX3 M Performance.
The powertrains will likely be shared with the upcoming BMW i4 M Performance, which may or may not be getting a 600+ horsepower total output from two permanent-magnet motors, unlike the regular i4, which only has one powerfult motor.
The 460-km (285-mile) range of the current single-motor model will likely decrease slightly on the iX3 M Performance, but the improved specs will definitely find enough extra customers to balance the situation.
Since it will come as part of a facelift, the electric SUV will get some of the same design upgrades as the regular X3 and X4, including new headlights and taillights, new shapes for the bumpers, and even an all-new interior with the latest evolution of the iDrive infotainment system.
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