2022 BMW EVs Come to Washington
BMW’s EV plans have been getting clearer over recent months, including details of their 2022 BMW iX Sport Activity Vehicle, and 2022 i4 Gran Coupe. U.S. deliveries of both are set to happen in March of next year. And yesterday, in the nation’s capital, we finally got a chance to see them up close and in person. Here are some of the highlights:
iX
The 2022 iX xDrive50 midsize utility will start at $83,200, come standard with a dual motor all-wheel- drive powertrain with 516-horsepower, getting to 60 in the mid-4 second range. Driving range is expected to be around 300-miles. Later next year, a more powerful iX M60 will arrive, boasting more than 600-horsepower.
Using much of what they learned from the i3, the iX’s structure is made up of a mix of carbon-fiber, steel, and aluminum. Size is very close to the current X5, but with the height of the X6, and wheelbase of the X7. The large twin-kidney grille is not a grille at all, but panels packed full of sensors, with a “self- healing” coating.
Tech inside includes a curved glass dash with 12 and 14 inch screens, and what BMW calls Shy Tech, which essentially attempts to hide technology as much as possible in the background. Examples include integrating speakers into the seats and other areas of the car, buttons that don’t necessarily look like buttons, and even radiant heating.
i4
The 2022 i4 will launch with 2 models; the i4 eDrive40, and the i4 M50. The M50 gets dual-motor all- wheel drive, 536-horsepower, and a 245-mile range for a starting price of $65,900. The iDrive40 sticks with single-motor rear-wheel-drive with 335-horsepower, has a range of 300-miles, and starts at just $55,400.
This 5-door hatchback, or Gran Coupe, is the most aerodynamic car that BMW has sold, eclipsing the i8 supercar, and is primed to deliver the expected BMW driving experience, with a center of gravity that is more than an inch lower than a current 3 Series.
Same curved dash display here as well, but the interior ambience is noticeably sportier than in the iX. The tall center console delivers the cocoon-like driver-oriented cockpit BMW is known for; sport seats and sport steering wheel are standard.