BMW iX facelift revealed with more power and range
Basic version starts at £74,400, upscale versions see significant price drop
The BMW iX was launched in November 2021. Now the large electric SUV is getting a facelift, which also brings more range. Instead of a maximum of 393, 426 miles are now possible on one battery charge. The drive power has also been increased for all three powertrains. This is why they have been given new names: Instead of xDrive40, xDrive50 and M60, they are now called xDrive45, xDrive60 and M70.
The new variants will start deliveries in the UK from May 2025. BMW has not yet provided any precise details on the production and market launch. However, the BMW iX will continue to be built in Dingolfing, around an hour's drive north-east of Munich.
Exterior
At 4.97 metres long and 1.70 metres high, the exterior dimensions of the BMW iX have not changed significantly; the boot has an unchanged capacity of 500 to 1,750 litres. Even the look only appears completely new at first glance; BMW has probably achieved the dramatic effect of the pictures primarily with skilful lighting. A comparison with the old model reveals the vertical air intakes at the front left and right. The light signature has also been changed, as shown here:
BMW iX xDrive60 (2025)
BMW iX xDrive 50 (2021): Different front air intakes and grille pattern
The front skirt has also been slightly modified to make the lower air intake appear larger. The shape of the headlights does not seem to have changed. The vertical kidney grille has also been retained, although the frame and pattern are now finer. A new option is the contour lighting of the grille, which made its debut on the BMW i7 and is now gradually making its way through the entire model range.
According to BMW, the rear apron has been redesigned; the M70 and the M sports package offer an integrated diffuser. Comparison with the old version is made more difficult by the fact that there are different visual variants, hence four pictures, three of the new and one of the old iX:
BMW iX M70 xDrive (2025)
BMW iX xDrive60 (2025)
BMW iX xDrive45 (2025)
BMW iX xDrive50 (2021)
Interior
Inside, BMW seems to be moving away from the oddly shaped steering wheel, as the comparison pictures below show. However, the slightly curved double display (with not exactly overwhelming dimensions) remains. The rest of the look seems to have changed little:
BMW iX xDrive60 (2025)
BMW iX xDrive50 (2021)
The BMW Operating System 8.5 , which was introduced in summer 2023, is designed for particularly intuitive operation. This includes voice control, video streaming and in-car gaming. 5G mobile phone antennas enable optimised connectivity.
Batteries and drives
As before, all three iX variants have all-wheel drive and only current-excited synchronous motors are used. The reasons for the increased range are obviously different: a significantly larger battery is installed in the basic xDrive45 version. In contrast, the new batteries in the two higher variants are practically the same size; however, the reduced consumption is noticeable here. It has been reduced by silicon carbide inverters, friction-optimised wheel bearings and tyres with the efficiency label A+. However, the top-of-the-range M70 version still consumes significantly more than the two basic versions.
| iX xDrive45 | iX xDrive60 | iX M70 xDrive | |
| Drive | AWD 408 PS, 700 Nm | AWD 544 PS, 765 Nm | AWD 659 PS, 1,015 Nm |
| 0-100 km/h / top speed | 5.1 sec. / 124 mph | 4.6 sec. / 124 mph | 3.8 sec / 155 mph |
| WLTP power consumption | 21.8 kWh | 21.9 kWh | 23.5 kWh |
| Net battery | 94.8 kWh | 109.1 kWh | 108.9 kWh |
| WLTP range | 321 - 374 miles | 370 - 426 miles | 321- 366 miles |
| Max. Charging power AC/DC | 11 (opt. 22) / 175 kW | 22 / 195 kW | 22 / 195 kW |
| DC charging time 10-80% | 34 min | 35 min | 35 min |
| DC charging speed | 2.0 kWh/min | 2.2 kWh/min | 2.2 kWh/min |
| Charging price | £74,400 | £92,200 | £113,300 |
The basic version is now much more powerful at 300 kW instead of 240 kW, and the battery stores much more energy, 94.8 kWh net instead of 71.0 kWh. This jump of around 30 per cent has been made possible by 'new battery cell technology', but no further details are given. However, the weight of the battery also seems to have changed, as BMW mentions a change in weight distribution due to the new battery technology.
As far as we know, the small battery used NCM chemistry, while the large battery used NCA (nickel, cobalt and aluminium). It is possible that the small battery has now also been switched to NCA; if the heavy metal cobalt has been replaced by lightweight aluminium, it is plausible that the weight of the battery will change. But this remains speculation.
The base model BMW iX xDrive45 now costs 83,500 euros
The entry-level model now achieves 321 - 374 WLTP miles. The extra power shortens the sprint by exactly one second to 5.1 seconds. However, the increase in system performance does not seem to be related to the motors, as the 258 PS at the front and 272 PS at the rear are even weaker than before (272 and 340 PS respectively).
The mid-range version previously used the same engine hardware as the base model. The new xDrive60 now uses the same 258 PS unit at the front, but a 313 PS unit at the rear. The system power increases slightly from 523 to 544 PS, the battery size increases only very slightly from 108.6 to 109.1 kWh. A total range of 370 - 426 miles is now possible instead of a maximum of 393 miles.
Black and evil in the pictures: the top model M70 xDrive
Strangely enough, the top-of-the-range M70 has a slightly different storage capacity of 108.8 kWh to the mid-range version. The maximum range is now 366 miles instead of 350 miles. The motor is now rated at 659 PS instead of 619 PS. However, this power only applies to the 'MyMode Sport'. At the front there is a 258 PS motor, at the rear there is a 489 PS motor - the hardware has obviously not changed. The high torque of the top version is still remarkable. It is no less than 1,015 Nm (or 1,100 Nm with Launch Control activated).
Charging
The entry-level battery can now be charged with a maximum of 175 kW instead of 150 kW. Although the DC charging time increases by three minutes, this is not surprising given the significantly higher storage capacity. The charging speed calculated by us from the manufacturer's specifications is reduced: 2.0 instead of 1.7 kilowatt hours can now be charged per minute of charging time (average in the SoC range between 10 and 80%).
Charging capacity, charging times and charging speeds have not changed significantly for the large battery. It is worth noting, however, that the mid-range version can now charge with up to 22 kW of AC as standard, whereas this was at least an option on the base model. The top model can still do this.
Chassis, equipment, prices and competition
According to BMW, the suspension has been adapted to the increased power output and changed weight distribution. Air suspension is still standard on the top-of-the-range model, but is available as an option on the lower-priced versions. The two mid-range versions are fitted with 20-inch tyres as standard, while the M70 is fitted with 22-inch tyres. New for the iX is the option of 23-inch wheels. The 22-inch and 23-inch wheels are supplied with tyres with integrated foam absorbers for noise reduction.
Standard equipment includes adaptive LED headlights, heated seats and steering wheel, adaptive cruise control (ACC, called Driving Assistant Plus by BMW), a head-up display (BMW Live Cockpit Professional) and a surround sound system from Harman Kardon. The M70 offers Integral Active Steering, air suspension, illuminated grille, M Sport Package Pro and dark side windows as standard.
Extras include a panoramic glass roof, soft-close doors, seat ventilation and an electrically operated towbar. One highlight is the 'motorway assistant with Level2+ functionality'. This is probably the system that made its debut in the i5, allowing you to take your hands off the wheel for an unlimited period of time on motorways up to 80 mph.
Prices have risen significantly for the basic version. Instead of £70,985, £74,400 is now being asked, most likely due to the new battery. On the other hand, the upscale versions are even cheaper. Instead of £102,755, "only" £92,200 will be charged for the mid-range version, i.e. £10,555 less, and the price for the top model falls from £122,775 to £113,300, i.e. £9,475 less.
At almost five metres in length, the BMW iX is one of the largest electric SUVs on the market. Its traditional rival is the Audi Q8 e-tron, which, however, is no longer configurable. A new alternative is the smaller Q6 e-tron with 800-volt technology. Other 800-volt alternatives in the volume segment are the Kia EV9 and the Xpeng G9. The Polestar 3 and the Volvo EX90, both with 400-volt technology, also compete in the same size class. Mercedes has the slightly smaller EQE SUV and the slightly larger EQS SUV.
Gallery: BMW iX (2025)
More official news from BMW:
Source: BMW
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