BMW iX M60 to pack 440kW electric punch

BMW has confirmed that its forthcoming full-electric large luxury SUV, the BMW iX, will have a high-performance M60 version topping the line-up, developing more than 440kW of power.

Full details are still being kept under wraps, but the 2022 BMW iX M60 will mark a significant step up from the BMW iX xDrive50 that launches in Australia late this year and features a twin-motor powertrain that’s now confirmed as developing 385kW and offering a WLTP-verified range of 630km.

Apart from output, the only official figures provided show the M60 – the first pure-electric M SUV – will be rated at 21.6kWh per 100km for energy consumption, which makes it a little less efficient than the xDrive50 (19.8kWh).

But the extra 55kW-plus will see the M60 draw close in the power and performance stakes to the BMW X5 M Competition, which uses a 460kW 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8.

Expect to see the similarly-sized all-wheel drive zero-emissions SUV devour the 0-100km/h sprint in well under 5.0 seconds – the claimed figure for XDrive50 – but just how close it gets to the 3.8sec benchmark set by the combustion-engined X5 M remains to be seen.

In an online global presentation of the BMW iX, which launches Down Under in both xDrive50 and xDrive40 (240kW) guise in the final quarter (around the same time as the smaller X3-sized BMW iX3), the German car-maker’s Project iX manager Johann Kistler said that powertrains would be key differentiator for the iX rather than body style, which rules out a coupe-style SUV derivative.

“First of all, it’s purpose-built, this car. It’s not planned to have other [bodies] on the platform,” Kistler said.

“We have different engines; we start with the xDrive40 and xDrive50, and ... for next year we will offer M60 on this, so we decided to make no different body shapes but in the end we have three different [powertrains]...”

In its official literature, BMW says the M60 enables the company “to deliver a performance-focused take on all-electric driving pleasure”.

“The ground-breaking fusion of BMW eDrive technology from BMW i and the development expertise amassed by BMW M GmbH on the track makes it possible to enjoy both an outstanding performance experience and zero tailpipe emissions,” BMW said in its press release.

“The duo of electric motors will together generate output exceeding 440kW/600hp. The intelligently controlled electric all-wheel drive will ensure that traction and directional stability are maximised when the drive power is channelled to the road, while the chassis technology is also being meticulously finetuned to match the two motors’ exceptionally sporty performance profile.

“The classic M formula of agility, dynamism and precision will therefore shine through in the driving qualities of the BMW iX M60.”

The first M EV will be the BMW i4 M Performance, packing in about 400kW, while the third is now likely to be the BMW iX3 M60 – a model that would well and truly take the fight up to electric rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz EQC and Audi e-tron.

More than that, we could be witnessing the start of an electric power war developing between the German prestige brands.

AMG has previously ruled out producing a version of the EQC, but the 300kW EQC 400 is really only a taste of things to come.