2022 BMW iX: Australian details revealed for large electric SUV
17 March, 2021
Light has been shed on the 2022 BMW iX large electric SUV before the model’s Australian debut towards the end of the year.
The 2022 BMW iX's fourth-quarter 2021 arrival in the Australian market will mark a milestone for the brand, becoming its first German-built electric SUV to be offered. BMW's iX3 small SUV is slated for a mid-year release, however the model will be produced in Shenyang, China, in a joint venture between BMW and Brilliance Automotive.
Australian delivery of the iX also signifies the uptake of electric cars in Australia, as the new Bavarian will join the Audi e-tron and e-tron S, Mercedes-Benz EQC and Tesla Model X for larger, premium electric SUV choices down under.
The 2022 BMW iX will be sold in two trims: xDrive40 and xDrive50, with each offering different battery pack capacities, power outputs and driving ranges.
The xDrive40 will come equipped with a battery pack outputting “more than” 70kWh according to BMW, resulting in a power output exceeding 240kW and a claimed driving range of more than 400km.
The big brother xDrive50 gets a 100kWh battery pack, which BMW claims will provide more than 370kW and a driving range in excess of 600km.
The 2022 BMW iX will also be the first to receive the brand’s newest operating system, iDrive 8. Other tech includes 5G compatibility and upgrades to autonomous driving capabilities – however BMW does not state what level of autonomous driving the iX will possess.
Sustainability has been a focus for the iX, with BMW procuring the lithium and cobalt required for battery production itself from “controlled sources” in Australia and Morocco. The iX’s interior also features ethically-sourced wood and recycled fishing nets are used to construct certain interior trims.
How much will the 2022 BMW iX cost?
Australian pricing (and more detailed specifications) will be announced closer to the model’s launch in the fourth quarter of 2021. However, if the model is to challenge its premium electric SUV rivals, we think it will need to land around the $140,000 mark in xDrive40 trim.
