Driving into the future with the BMW iX3 M Sport

I was given the opportunity to test drive one of the range of new electric BMWs, and I leapt at the opportunity.

The car I was lent by BMW in BKK was a cherry red, metallic iX3 with only 293kms on the speedometer and it looked and felt really impressive.

This was the first time that I had driven a fully electric vehicle unaccompanied, and so for me it was a voyage of discovery, and this iX3 is the ideal transition for any driver from an ICE (internal combustion engine) to a EV (electric vehicle).

I left their headquarters and was still getting used to the extremely smooth running car and was amazed at the instant torque with absolutely no noise at all. The only thing you hear is the artificial background noise created by Hans Zimmer the German Oscar winning movie maker, composer and music producer who has produced soundtracks for the car.

The iX3 is the electric version of what is already a best seller the ICE X3 and weighs 400kgs more than the ICE. Indeed it is on the same chassis and has the extremely high standards of finish as the petrol and diesel versions of the car. The dash and layout were similar until you press the blue start button and then an array of colour, dials, functions and information, welcome you and you realise that you are in something new and different.

I am a freak of nature at 194 cm tall and 107 kg in weight but this model fitted my large bulk to a tee. I adjusted the seat down to its lowest level and set it well back and it was taut yet comfortable, it has a deceptively large interior. The tight leather seat with the lateral side bolsters hugged me and I can imagine that on a long journey that they would aid comfort and hold you in place. The front seats even have an extended squab which I also found very useful.

This is BMWs fifth generation ‘e drive’, mid sized, luxury, electric crossover with a single electric motor powering the rear wheels producing 286BHP.

It revs up to 17,000 revolutions and delivers a respectable 285 mile range from a 80kwt battery pack. As with most EVs the maximum speed is limited, the iX3 to 112mph, but it is quick in the overtaking band between 50 – 70mph, making the car safe and dependable. It even has a speed limiter which I think is a great idea for today’s regulated roads, that you could set, to adhere to the speed limit.

It is a quality family car and seats 5 in comfort. I sat in the rear behind a 185cms tall man and I am 194cms tall and I had plenty of knee and head room. The boot is a respectable 510 litres that would swallow a family’s luggage or the weekly shop with ease. The inside of the car is totally BMW – you are cosseted in delicious leather and quality finishing throughout. You know and feel that you are sitting in a luxury vehicle but the car is nimble enough to be a city car and would slice through Bangkok’s traffic with the minimum of fuss.

The BMW iX3 M Sport is manufactured at the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture (BBA) in Shenyang, China. Retail price is THB 3,699,000 inclusive of BSI Standard Package, a 4 years unlimited mileage warranty with the high-voltage battery warranty of 8 years or 160,000 km. whichever comes first.

Unlike some other electric cars, with dual motors powering both front and rear axles, it doesn’t set off like a scalded cat, but is it still instant torque and is surprisingly agile for its size and weight. It is 473 cm in length, under 190 cm in width and 166 cm in height, but with the car weighing 2,235 kg and the low centre of gravity due to the weight of the batteries, the car is remarkably stable and sits squat on the road.

It is, like all BMW cars – a drivers car.

The panoramic sunroof can be transparent or glazed, and sheds light on the cabin of the car, the side windows are acoustically glazed so help keep out the noise. I really didn’t hear a thing whilst driving apart, from Hans Zimmer’s artificial hums and whizzes even at Expressway speed.

The steering is well weighted and there is a refinement and fluidity to the handling. It would take a week to fully understand the options and alternatives of the car but it has 3 main driving modes Standard, Sport and Eco Power – the latter restricts the engine, gearing, air con and braking and stops the sound effects and this would be more than suitable for daily driving in the city. One of the additional systems is ‘proactive energy harvesting’ which offers energy recuperation and would deliver one foot driving which is set to be the norm with EVs.

The two large screens on the dash are full of information, the 12.3” binnacle behind the steering wheel gives the most essential driving information – speed, range, distance, temperature, power reserve. The the main screen is for infotainment and has the latest version of the brilliant BMW iDrive system. The 10.25″ touchscreen display can be operated using a rotary controller between the front seats, which is much less distracting than other systems I have seen.

The sound system is epic – probably one of the best I have heard, a Harman Kardon with a bespoke 18 speaker, 655 watts surround, sound system that combines two central bass speakers and two subwoofers positioned under the rear seat.

The heads up display shows speed, direction on navigation and distance between you and the vehicle in front, speed limits, incoming calls, and BMW were the first European manufacturer to introduce this system so you know it’s the best.

Had I purchased the car I would get to know the voice activated control system which fitted with voice recognition and control they call an ‘intelligent personal assistant’, that can interact with both driver and passengers. With these voice commands, numerous functions of the vehicle such as parking, air conditioning, telephone, navigation and other instructions can be carried out, guaranteeing comfort and safety for all occupants. The navigation system was again one of the best that I have seen as you would expect from a manufacturer that owns the recognised best car in the world Rolls Royce.

As a summary before you purchase an electric car I suggest that you test drive the BMW iX3 as I don’t think that it gets much better than this…

For further information, please contact BMW Group Thailand at Tel 1397 or visit the website www.bmw.co.th