This year is shaping up to be one of the busiest for BMW ever, with a slew of new items already on the market. The 3 Series LCI and M4 CSL were just presented last week, but the Bavarians are already looking forward to the next revelation. The official BMW I account has started the countdown to the iX1’s global debut with a new Instagram photo.
For the time being, no specific release date has been announced, but the German luxury brand has been teasing the third electric crossover (after the iX3 and iX) for quite some time. That means the wait is almost over, and the iX1 will be released alongside its combustion-engined sister shortly. The photographs featured with the announcement aren’t new; BMW released them a few weeks ago when it outlined how prototypes were tested in icy Sweden.
Born Electric, a post shared by BMW i. (@bmwi)
According to the little verified information we have on the iX1, it will go up to 272 miles (438 kilometers) on a single charge using the WLTP cycle. It will, of course, use the BMW Group’s fifth-generation eDrive technology, which will also be used by the mechanically similar MINI Countryman EV.
We also know that xDrive will be available with two electric motors, whilst cheaper variants would only have one motor. The iX1 will be joined by the gasoline and diesel-powered X1 variants, as well as a plug-in hybrid variation. Because the crossover with conventional powertrains will share the same platform as the EV, they will all look substantially the same, mirroring the connection between the new 7 Series and i7. The same can be said for the X3 and iX3, as well as the 3 Series LCI and i3 Sedan, however the latter is only available in China.
The X1 will be on sale at the end of the year, with the iX1 following close after. The zero-emissions variant will not be the only new model in the lineup; there will also be a M Performance X1 M35i with quad exhaust tips.
Photographer: BMW I / Instagram
