BMW’s all-electric iX3 SUVÂ has leaked in what are alleged to be official shots from the brand posted on social media.
First published by Instagram user cochespias and since circulated more widely, the images show the Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes-EQC rival’s exterior with no body cladding for the first time.
We can see the X3’s trademark kidney grille has been blanked out for production, as is often the case with EVs that not longer require air cooling to the same extent. Vertical intakes at each edge of the front bumper appear to be brake cooling ducts, while blue backlighting appears to feature around the grille and down the sills.
The unusual aero-focused wheel design is adopted from the iX3 concept, although the car’s overall look has been toned down a little as the EV becomes more closely linked to the standard X3. Blue detailing also features at the rear, with two panels acting as styling inserts in place of the usual twin exhaust outlets.
We’ve yet to see shots of the interior, but it’s safe to assume that – bar some new functions in the instruments and infotainment to show EV-specific information and buttons for the extra drive modes – it will remain largely identical to that of the standard X3.
Details of the production iX3’s powertrain are still yet to be forthcoming. When the 2018 iX3 concept was first shown the plan was to offer a battery capacity of over 70kWh, a range of around 400 kilometre’s and an electric motor rated at 200kW (an output which could in theory be doubled with a dual-motor setup on top models).
A reveal date for the iX3 is not yet official and has likely been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, it is still expected that the model will be shown off and go on sale before 2020 is out.
Lawrence Allan