BMW iX3 and iX will be priced to compete

UPDATED 11/12/2020: Australian order books are now open for the BMW iX ahead of its local arrival in the fourth quarter of 2021, with online reservations being taken on a first-come, first-served basis.

BMW Australia is still to announce final pricing and specifications for the all-new battery-electric SUV, with these details being kept under wraps until mid-2021.

Placing an order requires a $500 deposit, which BMW says is a “special opportunity [that] enables early adopters to secure their iX months before the model’s line-up, pricing and standard specifications have been announced”.

“Those who reserve their vehicle and place a $500 deposit can then choose and specify their specific model in co-ordination with their preferred dealer in mid-2021 when full details about the new model have been confirmed,” the company said.

The first step can be taken at the ‘BMW Shop’ section of BMW’s Australian website.  

ORIGINAL ARTICLE PUBLISHED 4/12/2020: Both of BMW’s all-new battery-electric SUVs – the BMW iX3 and BMW iX – could undercut the Mercedes-Benz EQC on price when they launch in Australia within two months of each other in the second half of 2021.

The Chinese-built BMW iX3 will arrive here in the third quarter to further expand the choice offered by the top-selling mid-size X3 SUV.

The more recently revealed BMW iX is expected here in the second half of 2021 and will be priced to fit alongside the X5 large SUV range.

The next all-new battery-electric vehicle (BEV) after that from the Munich brand will be the BMW i4 compact sedan previewed by a 2020 concept that will also spawn an M model.

Both the iX3 and iX are likely to be priced below the Mercedes-Benz EQC, which is currently priced at $139,700 plus on-road costs. That’s despite the iX being larger and boasting better range.

The Audi e-tron is also in that price range, starting at $137,100 plus ORCs.

BMW already offers a comprehensive line-up of X3s in Australia and as well as the BEV there is an intention to bring a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant in 2021 as well.

BMW Australia product and market planning chief Brendan Michel hinted the iX3 would fit into the range around the turbo-petrol six-cylinder X3 M40i, which is currently priced at $111,900 plus ORCs.

“It will be priced very well in its segment,” he said. “Should it be more than an M40i? Maybe not.”

The iX looks like it would sit adjacent to the X5 range somewhere near the $133,900 45e PHEV.

“Should the iX be priced $50,000 more than an X5 equivalent? No, it shouldn’t be,” Michel said. “iX will be maybe similar to X 45e pricing.”

Asked if that meant the BMW iX would undercut the Mercedes-Benz EQC, Michel responded: “Potentially. You said that not me!”

Despite launching two electrified and similarly-named SUVs so close together, Michel said BMW Australia was confident potential buyers would be able to understand the differences.

“It’s price and size, it’s just like X3 and X5,” he said.

“If you want a mid-size electric SUV you get the iX3, and if you want to pay a little more and get something a bit bigger then you can get the iX, which is a cross between the X5 and the X6 in physical size.

“The design of the iX3 is a mix between the radical ‘i’ designs the guys come up with and still keeping it looking like an X3 as well,” he added.

“It’s mid-sized, the weight of it will probably surprise everyone when it lands, because our competitors are around 2.5 tonnes for a fully-electric SUV in the mid-size segment and ours is about 2.1 or 2.2 tonne. So significant advantage there.

“It’s our first EV that’s going to have genuine range over 400km. That’s going to open up whole new avenues, especially where people like to travel long distances.

“The iX is designed from the ground up as an EV, whereas the iX3 modified the existing (X3) chassis,” he added.

“It has been in development for five or six years … and it is going to highlight all the next generation of technology that is coming through.

“It will have the next generation of operating system (eight), it has very wide screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment.”

The iX is expected to have a 600km range.

The new BMW iX3 and iX will join the stalwart i3 in the showroom, which is understood to have at least a couple of years production life left in it.

Michel predicted the new generation of BMW BEVs could have the same impact the i3 had when it launched in 2014.

“Eighty per cent of the people who bought the i3 were new to our brand,” he said. “So there are going to be people who buy the iX3 and they could be similar percentages who have never even looked at a luxury SUV before.

“So they are buying purely because they want an electric vehicle.

“With these models as well there is also a performance aspect to it and a sporting aspect to our cars as well. People buy BMWs because they know they are going to get a sports car.

“That sporting aspect will still be able to be retained into our electric vehicles as well.

“Doesn’t matter if we go fully-electric or fully-green and how we are perceived, our cars will still drive like BMWs.”

All up, BMW plans to introduce 25 plug-in electric vehicles by 2023 and Michel indicated most – if not all – were intended to come to Australia.