BMW Australia is happy to announce they have another couple of EVs coming soon (for a total of six) that will be offered below Australia's LCT – the Luxury Car Tax threshold stands at AUD 89,332 (a little over $56k).
The actual good news is that while BMW is showcasing the first-ever iX2 coupe-SUV in Japan during the inaugural Japan Mobility Show, the Land Down Under can prepare to welcome two versions from the middle of next year into the fold – BMW iX2 eDrive20 and xDrive30. These two are also eligible for the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) electric car exemption and join the i4 eDrive35, iX3 M Sport, iX1 eDrive20, and iX1 xDrive30 in the series of models that are below LCT and FBT.
According to BMW Australia, when the iX2 arrives on the market, they will have "the widest selection of fully electric vehicles" – meaning 15 versions across seven BEV models. The iX2 eDrive20 and iX2 xDrive30 are priced from AUD82,900 and AUD85,700, respectively – which is the equivalent of $52k and $54k, respectively. Unfortunately, there's no way to compare them with US market specifics as BMW decided not to bring the iX2 to America, only its ICE-powered X2 sibling.
The base eDrive20 model has a single electric motor and a temporary-boosted peak output of 150 kW (201 hp), plus a battery pack of 64.8 kWh of usable energy, enabling a WLTP rating of 477 kilometers on a full charge – that's 296 miles but keep in mind that this standard is more enthusiastic than EPA's findings. Secondly, the xDrive30 comes with dual electric motors, electric AWD, and a max rating of 230 kW (308 hp). The iX2 xDrive30 sprints to 100 kph (62 mph) in 5.6 seconds and tops at 180 kph (112 mph).
The battery is the same, and the range can vary between 417 and 449 km (WLTP), which is 259 to 279 miles. BMW uses various tricks and treats for that, like adaptive energy recuperation and the Max Range function. Plus, the DC fast charge rating stands at 130 kW, so that it can recoup 10 to 80% of charge in as little as half an hour. When you're not in a hurry, the AC system tops the battery with up to 22kW – the highest standard rate (alongside iX1).
The full charging solution package for the iX2 xDrive30 includes the Flexible Fast Charger for home sockets, a Mode 3 charging cable, and a 12-month subscription to the national Chargefox network. Currently, BMW has only announced the full specification and the options for the iX2 xDrive 30. The standard goodies include perks like the BMW Iconic Glow illuminated kidney, Live Cockpit Pro 10.7 plus 10.25-inch curved widescreen infotainment setup, Operating System 9, BMW Iconic Sounds Electric, and more.
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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