BMW iX3 M Coming As A Quad Motor Performance EV
Following the unveiling of the iX3 last year, BMW is turning its attention to a high-performance variant
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by Michael Gauthier
The BMW iX3 M has been spied undergoing testing in Europe.
Prototype has an M steering wheel and M-branded sport seats.
There will be four electric motors that could produce 700+ hp.
BMW M will begin offering electric vehicles in 2027, and the upcoming i3 M sedan has already been teased. But it won’t arrive alone, as spy photographers have captured the brand’s first high-performance electric SUV, possibly called the iX3 M, undergoing cold-weather testing in northern Sweden.
More: BMW M’s iX3 Is Hiding Something Under Its Hood
Dressed in heavy camouflage, the prototype looks virtually identical to the standard model. However, we can see the crossover has been equipped with sizable wheels that are backed up by a high-performance braking system. The latter feature cross-drilled discs as well as blue calipers up front.
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The production model will presumably have more changes including sportier bumpers and a lightly revised grille. We also wouldn’t be surprised to find a modified diffuser and plenty of M badging.
While there isn’t much to see outside, the interior pictures show the M variant will have a sport steering wheel that eschews vertical spokes. We can also see red and blue contrast stitching as well as dedicated M buttons that are covered by tape.
The rest of the cabin is largely hidden behind disguise, but there are heavily bolstered sport seats that have taped up M logos. Besides the special touches, we can expect a pillar-to-pillar Panoramic iDrive display as well as a 17.9-inch infotainment system.
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BMW M has been coy on powertrain details, but they recently said their upcoming EVs will have four electric motors as well as a front axle that can be “completely decoupled” to deliver rear-wheel drive characteristics and efficiency. All of these models, including the i3 M sedan and the iX3 M SUV, will also have simulated gear shifts and a newly developed “soundscape.”
The motors will deliver precisely controlled power and torque to each individual wheel and they’ll be powered by a 100+ kWh battery pack, which has been “specifically adapted to meet the demands of high-performance vehicles.” The company also noted upcoming models will have a long range, highly efficient energy recuperation, 800-volt technology, and their new Heart of Joy driving dynamics system.
The big question is how much power to expect. Only BMW knows for sure, but speculation suggests they could be packing between 700 hp (522 kW / 710 PS) and 800 hp (597 kW / 811 PS).
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