BMW iX facelift revealed, variants, launch, powertrains, design

BMW has unveiled a facelift for its flagship electric SUV, the iX. The new iX not only gets a few design tweaks but also some major power and efficiency upgrades. Production of the BMW iX facelift is expected to commence in March 2025 at BMW’s Dingolfing plant in Germany, and the e-SUV will be launched globally this spring.

1. iX facelift gets new batteries and more power and range across line-up
2. Notable updates to the exterior include a new grille and alloy wheel design
3. Interior gets minor changes like a redesigned steering and better seats

The iX facelift will be offered in three variants with updated nomenclature to reflect the electric SUV’s mechanical improvements. The iX 40 and iX 50 are now dubbed the 45 and 60, and the previous range-topping M60 variant is now the M70. Optional M Sport packages are available for every variant, with the iX M70 offering an additional M Sport Pro trim.

BMW iX facelift exterior updates

The new iX doesn’t get substantial cosmetic changes, but there are some key distinguishing factors. The elongated kidney grille sports a new design with horizontally opposed diagonal lines; BMW will also offer its Iconic Glow Illumination technology for the grille as an optional extra. The front bumper gets larger air dams towards the centre and slimmer vertical air intakes on both ends. The headlights also have a new diagonal LED signature reminiscent of the M4 CS.

The changes in profile are milder, with the most notable one being a silver insert on the skirts and a new design for the 20-inch alloy wheels. BMW will offer 21- and 22-inch wheels as an option with the M Sport package, and the iX M70 can even be optioned with 23-inch wheels. Coming to the rear, the only noticeable update is a new bumper with an integrated diffuser.

BMW iX facelift interior changes

Much like the exterior, most of the new iX’s interior is similar to the outgoing model. The steering wheel gets a new round three-spoke design instead of the somewhat pentagonal two-spoke steering of the older model. However, the most substantial addition is BMW’s new M Multi-Function seats, which are standard on the iX M70 and included in the M Sport package for the iX 45 and 60.

According to BMW, the new seats offer better contouring, improved lumbar support, backrest width and active ventilation. The seats can also be shod in materials such as Castanea natural leather, Amido natural leather or microfibre/Sensatec in Atlas Grey/Black with M-specific stitching.

BMW iX facelift powertrain improvements

All three variants of the new iX are powered by dual motors offering AWD capability. The entry-spec iX 45 gets a new 94.8kWh battery developing 402hp and 700Nm of torque, an increase of 80hp and 70Nm over the outgoing iX 40 model. The mid-range iX 60 also gets a larger 109.1kWh battery, which is good for 536hp and 765Nm of torque, making for a 13hp bump over the iX 50. Lastly, the top-end iX M70 offers a slightly smaller battery than the iX 60 at 108.9kWh, but its performance-focused tuning and bespoke chemistry results in a whopping 659hp and up to 1,100Nm of torque (when launch control is activated), 49hp more than the previous iX M60.

As far as range goes, the iX 60 leads the pack with a claimed WLTP figure of up to 701km. The entry-level iX 45 comes second with up to 602km of range, and the range-topping iX M70 follows very closely with a claimed 600km range. When it comes to DC charging speeds, the iX M70 and 60 are tied at 195kW, whereas the iX 45 offers a maximum of 175kW.

Following the new iX’s global launch in spring 2025, the BMW e-SUV can be expected to arrive in India by the end of the year. The current iX is only offered in xDrive 50 guise in India at Rs 1.39 crore (ex-showroom, Mumbai). For the facelifted iX’s India launch, it remains to be seen if BMW will bring just one variant or the entire line-up.

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