- Refreshed iX electrical crossover will get 10% extra environment friendly
- 2026 iX can have three new mannequin designations
- BMW refined the suspension tuning
For those who’ve been following EVs, then BMW’s Neue Klasse (noo-ay class-eh) ought to sound acquainted. Although the “new class” sounds as French because it does German to this anglophone, BMW makes use of it to categorise its era of electrical automobiles that launches with the iX3 crossover later this 12 months, adopted by an iteration of the 3-Sequence sedan.
In the meantime, the refreshed 2026 BMW iX makes a half-step to this new class of EVs. Launched in 2022, BMW’s electrical crossover arrives with vital enhancements to its battery packs, propulsion techniques, and different internals, although a lot of what we all know we will’t say till late January for its international reveal.
In a short drive outdoors of BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina, manufacturing unit, the brand new iX rode with extra consolation and appeared to have a higher vary between its agency sport and gentle consolation settings. There seemed to be adjustments to its polarizing exterior design that bridged the quirky eco-style of the discontinued i3 hatch with a number of the extra daring if not brash styling components of BMW’s crossover SUVs.
It was coated in camo and the inside sprint and panels have been coated within the sort of skinny carpet you’d discover in a cargo flooring. Our impressions have been restricted to a 15-minute check drive, and most of the mechanical particulars are in one other sort of camouflage from BMW. Right here’s what we all know and what’s been leaked, and what we’d anticipate for this iteration of the iX.
Spartanburg is BMW’s largest manufacturing unit on the earth, and whereas it makes the X3 and almost each bigger crossover SUV that BMW ships to the world, the iX will proceed to be made in Plant Dingolfing, in Decrease Bavaria, Germany.
The 2026 iX arrives within the second quarter of 2025 with a reported three fashions to select from, every representing a distinct efficiency stage, within the BMW method.
2026 BMW iX battery and motor unit enhancements
All three fashions can have dual-motor all-wheel drive, however the brand new base mannequin would be the iX xDrive45, as an alternative of the 40, in keeping with a leaked Bimmerpost cited by a number of automotive retailers. Based mostly on EPA listings, the entry level to the 2025 BMW iX would be the xDrive40 that hasn’t been supplied within the U.S. but; it has a 71-kwh battery pack (usable) and a max vary of 219 miles, in keeping with the EPA.
Count on a bigger pack and elevated vary on the entry level of the 2026 iX xDrive45.
It’s rumored that this 12 months’s iX xDrive50 morphs into the iX xDrive60 in 2026, and this 12 months’s M60 turns into the M70 in 2026. It’s anticipated to have a bigger battery pack than the prevailing 105.2-kwh battery pack, however it should in all probability stick to the prismatic cells as an alternative of switching over to extra energy-dense cylindrical cells that can underpin the Neue Klasse era of electrical automobiles. Contemplate this the fifth-and-a-half—not sixth—era of BMW’s EV battery and propulsion system.
Neue Klasse automobiles will make the most of an 800-volt structure, however the iX will maintain its 400-volt structure, albeit with effectivity enhancements to extend charging instances. How a lot we do not know. On a DC fast-charger maxing out at 195 kw, the 2025 BMW iX may cost from 10-80% in 40 minutes.
Just like the Neue Klasse automobiles, nonetheless, the 2026 BMW iX could use silicon anodes as an alternative of graphite within the cells, leading to higher power density and sooner charging speeds. Extra density means extra power saved, so it ought to translate to higher vary, although that hasn’t been confirmed by BMW and certain gained’t be licensed by the EPA till early subsequent 12 months.
Different enhancements to spice up vary embody new “friction-optimized” wheel bearings, in keeping with BMW, and extra environment friendly headlights that eat much less power. New inverter know-how will increase the drive energy power for extra burst, and the switch of power from the battery to the motor is extra dense and environment friendly.
2026 BMW iX estimated with 10% extra effectivity
The 2025 iX xDrive50 has an EPA-rated vary of 309 miles when geared up with 20-inch wheels. BMW cited a ten% enhance in effectivity for the brand new mannequin, so that would increase the vary to 340 miles for the 2026 BMW xDrive60, when geared up with essentially the most fuel-efficient wheels wrapped in low-rolling resistance tires.
The 2025 M60 tops out at 285 miles, whereas the 2026 M70 may get someplace within the 310- to 315-mile vary, based mostly on my crude calculation. It’s a lot more durable to take a position on the xDrive45 as a result of BMW wouldn’t launch the battery dimension.
How the 2026 BMW iX drives
We don’t know if the M70 will enhance on the 2025 M60’s 610-hp, 749 lb-ft of torque output and 0-60 mph time of three.6 second, or if the iX xDrive60 will enhance on the 2025 xDrive50’s 516 hp, 564 lb-ft and its 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds.
In my transient drive, the iX xDrive60 had gobs of energy off the road, and slight toe-taps opened up bursts of acceleration at velocity. It was fast sufficient to slap a smile on my face, however not so stark as to upset unsuspecting passengers. Eco mode predictably mushed the throttle response. Sport mode principally deactivated the steadiness management system to permit for some sort of drifting, I used to be advised, however I didn’t have the house or lack of passengers to check it. The B mode within the shifter stays for max regenerative braking that brings the iX almost to a cease with out the brake pedal. The brakes stay the identical.
The 2024 iX xDrive50 I examined final 12 months had wobbly dealing with and prodigious weight, making it one thing of an outlier in BMW’s electroverse, however BMW has labored to enhance that throughout the iX vary. I examined the iX xDrive60 with the steel-spring suspension. BMW retuned the hydraulic dampers for a calmer trip whereas cruising, and on the stretch of state freeway I examined at about 70 mph, it made good on that promise. Except for the anticipated tire noise endemic to EVs, it was notably quiet within the cabin, even with the prototype seemingly unfinished.
The dearth of steering really feel in Sport mode was one in every of our editor’s complaints in regards to the 2023 BMW iX. Enhancements to the steering have additionally been made, with a extra pronounced feeling between sport and luxury settings, in keeping with BMW, however I didn’t have sufficient house to check that out.
The M70, just like the M60 earlier than it, will doubtless have a two-axle air suspension with adaptive dampers. It seems that the iron butterfly grille—one of many gaudiest takes on the kidney grille this facet of the i4 electrical sedan—carries over, as does the alleged self-healing grille that erases or not less than blends in scratches.
New this 12 months is an M Sport package deal, as requested by clients. The beauty Sport package deal on the 2025 xDrive50 won’t have had sufficient M. It comes with blue brake calipers, whereas the M Sport Bundle Professional normal on the M70 will get crimson calipers. Possibly it’ll make M posers see crimson.
On the within, the package deal means new M energy seats with extra facet bolstering and an extended seat backside by almost two inches. Leather-based upholstery stays an possibility with the M Sport Bundle, nevertheless it comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, M pedals, and M badging.
Normal options throughout the lineup embody adaptive cruise management as much as 85 mph, welcome lighting, heated entrance seats and a heated steering wheel, in addition to a Harman Kardon sound system.
Choices embody a glass roof, computerized soft-close doorways, and the most recent in BMW’s iDrive working system built-in right into a digital instrument cluster and touchscreen of undisclosed dimension. Driver-assist choices embody a restricted hands-free driving system with computerized lane adjustments and a distant parking system.
The 2026 iX provides some newness to this class of BMW electrical automobile, however what future will it maintain within the Neue Klasse faculty? We’ll discover out extra late in January.
BMW paid for airfare and lodging for Inexperienced Automobile Studies to attend its model overview.
