BMW iX3 is a 286hp, rear-drive EV SAV

[gonzales_turbo]

JD said:

gonzales_turbo said:

Pistonheads said:

The iX3 is going to be built by BMW Brilliance Automotive in Shenyang, with production commencing at some point in 2020

I, for one, welcome our new electric overlords.

Well the batteries are bought from China and the drivetrain from Korea so it makes sense to make it over that way I guess!

It sure makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that nobody in the EU decision committee saw that coming. They are now committed to solving the problem with the battery consortium but it is clearly too late!

As for the car, well the BMW i series were valuable for the sheer audacity and quality of engineering that went into them. This is not an i series, this is just an electric X3. Nothing remarkable in the design or engineering.

[hyphen]

gonzales_turbo said:

It sure makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that nobody in the EU decision committee saw that coming. They are now committed to solving the problem with the battery consortium but it is clearly too late!

Has something changed?

Last I read, EU and European manufacturers have been getting together, and have signed up companies to building multiple battery factories in Europe.

Yes, for the first wave they will be getting in China, but killing off manufacturing in Europe isn't part of the plans don't think.

Edited by hyphen on Thursday 19th December 09:34

[johnoxford]

NormalWisdom said:

Indeed - The "kidney" has been replaced by a pair of sunglasses!! Not very

Reminded of the Kia front end

[Hol]

What is an SAV?

Article said:

'BMW iX3 is a 286hp, rear-drive EV SAV....

Edited by Hol on Friday 20th December 14:43

[Kolbenkopp]

Likely "Sports Activity Vehicle"? Unlikely "Service Apres Vente".

[Lt. Coulomb]

Hol said:

What is an SAV?

School Aggregator Vehicle

[Mr Whippy]

nunpuncher said:

EVs are the worlds chance to break away from horrible and unnecessary SUVs

Just what I was thinking.

Give me this in a 3 series with more range, less weight, better drive and dynamics, usually a better ride, better price, and more class, and I’d be buying one.

Instead I’m not. I’m waiting for BMW to pull their finger out on a decent EV car... still...

[ghost83]

If it’s only rwd I don’t see the point in it been in a suv would be better in an estate body! I always think cars like this should be 4x4 otherwise they’re pretty pointless

[Court_S]

It looks like / reminds me of the original X3 which isn’t a good thing of you ask me.

[FWIW]

Yay! Made in China.

Go EU!

[Mr Whippy]

FWIW said:

Yay! Made in China.

Go EU!

By slaves?

[scottydoesntknow]

ghost83 said:

If it’s only rwd I don’t see the point in it been in a suv would be better in an estate body! I always think cars like this should be 4x4 otherwise they’re pretty pointless

People don’t want estates. They want SUV’s and crossovers. They like sitting up high. These people also don’t go off-road so have no real need for 4x4. This car is exactly what the market wants.

[Mr Whippy]

It’d make sense with awd for the front brake regen factor alone wouldn’t it?

How can you scavenge much energy with no front regen?

[nicfaz]

Mr Whippy said:

It’d make sense with awd for the front brake regen factor alone wouldn’t it?

How can you scavenge much energy with no front regen?

Indeed - one of the reasons (as well as aero) why this will is significantly worse than the model Y on WLTP. Maximising regen is really important for EVs, it's free energy that ICE cars are just wasting as heat and brake dust. And I don't agree that the masses don't want 4WD - many do, they just don't want to pay more for it. The want it when it snows, they want it when they are pulling out from a junction in a hurry on a wet day, some of them (and I've seen this IRL) want it when their soft-roader won't tow their darling daughter's horse trailer off a damp field because they didn't tick the 4WD option.

Finally, any prizes for guessing how much range that hideous grill costs in terms of drag? 10 miles? 20?