100 km/h in 3.9 seconds: BMW unveils upgraded iX3

BMW is presenting the most powerful drivetrain variant of its premium iX3 eSUV to date. The new BMW iX3 M60 xDrive takes the lead in the lineup with 450 kW and is said to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under four seconds. The Munich-based manufacturer plans to open order books at the end of January 2027.

Image: BMW

The iX3 was the first model from the Neue Klasse to launch, and has so far been available in three versions: the single-motor iX3 40 and the all-wheel-drive variants iX3 40 xDrive and iX3 50 xDrive, with starting prices ranging from €63,400 to €70,900. Now, the manufacturer is raising the bar at the top end of this line-up with the BMW iX3 M60 xDrive, which is set to deliver “highly dynamic” performance and stand out with its distinctive appearance. Orders will open at the end of January, though the Munich-based company has yet to announce the price.

The new performance model will share its powertrain with the i3 and the iX4. These Neue Klasse electric models will also debut next year as M60 xDrive variants. They all feature a system output of 450 kW and the large 108.7-kWh battery, which we already know from the 50 xDrive. With this technical upgrade, the iX3 M60 xDrive accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 240 km/h, significantly outperforming the next-best powertrain.

With the large battery, the M60 version achieves a range of up to 754 km on paper. There are no surprises in charging performance: like the iX3 50 xDrive, it supports 400 kW DC charging, which is said to charge the battery from 10 to 80 per cent state of charge (SoC) in 21 minutes. In other words, BMW claims that 10 minutes of charging provides enough energy for 340 km. The following table provides an overview of the entire line-up:

| BMW iX3 | iX3 40 | iX3 40 xDrive | iX3 50 xDrive | iX3 M60 xDrive |

| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |

| Drivetrain | RWD | AWD | AWD | AWD |

| Power | 235 kW | 275 kW | 345 kW | 450 kW |

| Torque | 500 Nm | 520 Nm | 645 Nm | 875 Nm |

| Acceleration (0-100 km/h) | 5.9 s | 5.6 s | 4.9 s | 3.9 s |

| Top speed | 200 km/h | 200 km/h | 210 km/h | 240 km/h |

| Net battery capacity | 82.6 kWh | 82.6 kWh | 108.7 kWh | 108.7 kWh |

| Range | 645 km | 621 km | 806 km | 754 km |

| DC charging power | 300 kW | 300 kW | 400 kW | 400 kW |

| DC charging time (10-80%) | 21 min | 21 min | 21 min | 21 min |

| Price | from €63,400 | from €65,900 | from €70,900 | n.a. |

Fundamentally, the iX3 is designed as a mid-size premium SUV, measuring 4.78 x 1.90 x 1.64 metres, with a wheelbase of 2.90 metres. All iX3 variants are currently produced exclusively at the Debrecen plant in Hungary. However, parallel production is being prepared in Mexico from 2027, and a locally produced long-wheelbase version of the iX3 is also set to launch in China.

The M60 xDrive will be manufactured in Debrecen starting in spring 2027. It aims to impress customers with its particularly sporty character. Consequently, it comes fitted with BMW’s adaptive ‘M Suspension’ as standard, along with other features such as distinctive wheel arches, black mirror caps, and the new M Yellow Lights, which offer a motorsport-inspired, focused view of the road. The ‘M Sport’ exterior is also standard, enhancing the visual depth of the BMW kidney grille. As standard, it rolls on 21-inch light-alloy wheels, with optional sizes up to 22 inches.

To ensure the new top version not only looks sporty but has the performance to boot, BMW has integrated its new ‘Heart of Joy’ central drive computer into the M60 xDrive. According to the company, this control unit operates ten times faster than previous systems, setting “new benchmarks in driving dynamics”. In the new M60 model, the system is combined with BMW’s M Dynamic Performance Control, a special control software for the high-performance models of the Neue Klasse.

BMW itself comments on the introduction of its new top-of-the-line iX3 variant as follows: “As an M Performance automobile, the all-electric SUV impresses with its particularly powerful drivetrain, sporty performance, and the agile driving behaviour typical of BMW. The BMW iX3 M60 xDrive thus embodies the technological leap of the Neue Klasse in an outstanding way. The combination of these characteristics with its unmistakably extroverted appearance defines the sporty and distinctive character of the most powerful BMW iX3.”