BMW has increased the range of its electric vehicles with new power electronics and other improvements

BMW has updated several of its electric vehicles, giving them a longer range than their predecessors. Thus, the BMW iX electric crossover has received a significant update. The company has improved the design of the car, improved its performance, and introduced a new base model with a lower starting price.

The new iX lineup includes three configurations: xDrive45, xDrive60 and the top-of-the-line M70 xDrive. The price of the xDrive45 starts at €68,785. This is a significant reduction compared to the previous base price of €79527. The xDrive60 and M70 xDrive models cost €80816 and €101544 respectively.

There are some noticeable changes in the powertrain. The new xDrive45 has a twin-motor setup with 408 horsepower, which helps the SUV accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds. The xDrive60 offers 544 horsepower, while the top-of-the-line M70 xDrive has 659 horsepower.

BMW has also focused on efficiency by offering more range. According to WLTP estimates, the xDrive45 travels 602 km on a single charge thanks to a useful battery capacity of 100.1 kWh, a redesigned transmission, the use of silicon carbide semiconductors in power electronics and a new generation of batteries.

Visually, the iX gets a simplified front grille and headlights with a vertical design. The rear end of the M70 xDrive (and models equipped with the M Sport package) gets a new integrated diffuser. Inside, the most noticeable change is the round steering wheel – it looks like BMW has finally listened to its customers. The M Sport package adds sports seats with the M logo, an M leather steering wheel, M pedals, and a two-tone instrument cluster.

The updated BMW iX will go into production in March, and delivery of finished products to customers is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025.

Power electronics with silicon carbide semiconductors will also appear in the updated BMW i5 and i5 Touring. The automaker has also made other optimizations for these electric vehicles. These include new tires with low rolling resistance, aerodynamic alloy wheels, and even optimized wheel bearings. All of this has resulted in a range of up to 47 kilometers (depending on the model and configuration). Thanks to these improvements, the BMW i5 xDrive40’s WLTP cycle energy consumption has been reduced by 9%, while the eDrive40 saves up to 8%.

Source: arenaev 1, 2