Munich has laid its restyling pen upon the iX, drawing a Neue Klasse lighting signature to go with a grille that’s just as large as before – albeit with different detailing. In other news, range is up and price (of entry) is down.
There will be a trio of variants for the 2026 model year. A new iX xDrive45, replacing last year’s base xDrive50, makes 402 horsepower and is good for an estimated all-electric range of up to 312 miles. Next up the food chain is a xDrive60 providing 536 hp and an expected range of up to 340 miles. Finally, the M70 xDrive has what the company are calling “M-specific design elements” to accompany its 650 ponies and suggested 302 miles of range.
That’s about 15-ish miles more than last year, partly thanks to energy refinements but probably mostly due to larger batteries: 100.1 kWh in the 45, 113.4 in the 60, and 112.8 in the 70. Leave it to the Germans to optimize everything and end up creating three different battery sizes for the same car.
Exterior styling adopts the quartet of angled lines for its headlamps, a flourish which immediately reminds us of the Vision Neue Klasse in spirit if not execution. No one would be surprised if the design language started spreading across the BMW lineup like kudzu, though that’s what we also said about these horrifying grilles yet some models have (so far) escaped getting botched plastic surgery. While the Bugs-type grille remains alarming, it is somehow slightly tempered by line detail at a 45-degree angle, like when you paint an accent wall in a room to distract from the poorly plastered ceiling.
The cabin can now be outfitted with a M Sport Package, with so-called M Multi-Function seats which crank up the lateral support and have their own design. An M leather steering wheel and other details mark the pack which is standard on the 70 but optional on the other two trims. A new Climate Comfort package is available across the same lines, bringing heated surfaces to the instrument panel and glove compartment, door panels, center armrest, and the rear seat. Because you’re a nobody if your glovebox isn’t heated.
The new iX will launch in these parts with the xDrive45 as its base, starting at $75,150 plus $1,175 destination and handling. That’s a 10 grand haircut to entry compared to last year’s xDrive50 which served as the starter trim. The xDrive60 will cost $88,500 and the M70 xDrive charges $111,500. Production starts in March with deliveries expected Q2 this year.
[Images: BMW]
Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.
