HIGH PERFORMANCE
The high-riding ix SUV is the latest BMW to get the M Performance treatment. We drive it (at 250km/h).
Ahigh-performance pure electric vehicle isn’t something we can expect to see from BMW’S M division any time soon. While those aren’t the exact words of the brand’s CEO Frank van Meel, he stands firm that battery technology is not yet at M level.
Still, BMW has slapped M badges on two pure-electric vehicles in the past year: the i4 M50 and the ix M60. DRIVEN travelled to Berlin to try out the bigger M-badged EV, at the international launch.
BMW’S ix SUV is already offered in two variants in New Zealand, with the entry-level xdrive 40 starting at $163,900; the M60 will overtake the xdrive 50 as the range-topping model, starting at $238,900.
According to BMW, sustainability was a key factor when it came to building the ix M60, with re-designed electric motors that reduce the demand for rare-earth materials. It also claims that when charged with green electricity, this ix M60 will produce 81 per cent less CO2 emissions than an X5 M50i throughout its lifecycle.
Before diving into what makes the ix M60 tick, it’s worth noting that this is considered an “M Performance” vehicle rather than a full M. It’s what an M550i is to an M5.
The M60 uses a dual electric motor setup, creating an all-wheel drive system with one motor on each axle. In unison, these motors produce 455kw/1100nm, which will send it to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds.
The M60 is fitted with a very large 112kwh battery, rated at 566km range per charge (WLTP). It can charge at up to 11kw AC, or 200kw DC. At maximum rate, the M60 battery can go from 10-80 per cent in just 35 minutes.
BMW NZ is offering a complimentary BMW Wallbox with every ix M60 sold, which is worth a few thousand dollars in itself.
The M60 gets its own M-specific suspension that’s “set up to elevate dynamic potential”, with air suspension at both ends and automatic level control.
Any vehicle that can hit 100km/h from a standing start in less than four seconds is going to offer a wild ride, but the performance is not delivered in the same way as, say, a hard-core M car like the M5 CS.
Driving the M60 in Germany on de-restricted autobahn sections gave us a glimpse into what it does best. Acceleration from 0-230km/h is phenomenal, and the last 20km/h before the limit is electronically slowed so driver’s don’t hit the limiter too hard. We hit the golden 250km/ h and the car didn’t feel out of its depth at all.
Unlike the Porsche Taycan /Audi RS e-tron GT which use a two-speed transmission, this M60 is single speed.
Obviously, these speeds aren’t legal in NZ, but the M60 is an incredibly fast point-to-point vehicle that doesn’t burn a drop of petrol. At speed, the ix’s air suspension offers an incredibly composed ride that should be equally impressive over NZ’S less desirable surfaces.
The back roads around Berlin offered quite a different driving experience, especially considering this machine weighs north of 2.4 tonnes.
The M60 holds its battery low in the chassis, but it’s still a large SUV. Though body roll doesn’t seem to be an issue, with the air suspension working to level out the ix in corners, the steering doesn’t feel overly direct, and is a little vague compared with something like Audi’s e-tron S Sportback.
Then again, you’ve also got 1100Nm on tap, with an all-wheel drive system that’s clinical in its approach to traction; so blasting out of corners is addictive in its own right.
On the inside, the M60 doesn’t add much interesting kit over the regular ix models, but the Hans Zimmer-designed sound gets more prominent. This sound has been updated especially for the M60, and the result is something that can only be compared to the iconic THX intro.
In a way, BMW is commanding this new space of luxurious, high-performance electric SUVS with the ix M60.
The only thing that comes slightly close is the Audi e-tron S Sportback, but it’s significantly cheaper, and doesn’t feel anywhere near as special.
From the bold exterior styling, to the simplistic approach to the interior, this ix feels like a massive (and promising) step into the future of electric motoring.