619PS-producing BMW iX M60 Electric SUV Breaks Cover

• Can go from 0-100kmph in 3.8 seconds, at an electronically capped top speed of 250kmph.

• The 111.5kWh battery pack gives it a WLTP range of 556km.

• The exterior design and cabin remain largely unchanged. 

• Could arrive in India by mid 2022.

While the standard BMW iX electric SUV is no slouch in the performance department, the company has taken things up a notch with the introduction of the M60 trim, the first-ever M-branded EV from the carmaker.

The most significant update is under the hood. The dual-motor AWD setup and the 111.5kWh battery are retained from the standard iX, but the SUV now pushes out a meaty 619PS and 1100Nm (when combined with Sport Mode and Launch Control). That’s a hefty 94PS and 335Nm more than the standard xDrive50 trim. The 0-100kmph sprint takes 3.8 seconds, and the top speed is electronically limited to 250kmph, a second faster than the stock SUV.

Other performance assists include adaptive air suspension and rear-wheel steering (both are optional in the standard model). Blue-finished M performance brakes have been entrusted with bringing the EV to a stop. 

The performance gains in the BMW iX M60 come at the cost of range. The sporty electric SUV can go up to a WLTP-claimed 566km on a single charge. For reference, the stock xDrive50 has a range of up to 630km. 

Now, to the design. The iX M60 gets bronze inserts on the front grille and ‘M’ badging all over the body. There’s also the option of a bigger set of alloy wheels (22 inches). But that’s about it.

The similarities with the standard iX continue inside, with the SUV retaining BMW's latest iDrive 8 infotainment technology – a curved dual-screen display comprising a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. 

In India, the standard BMW iX recently arrived at an introductory price of Rs 1.16 crore (ex-showroom, India). There’s no word yet on when the spicier iX M60 will make it here, but considering the first batch of the standard SUV sold out quickly, we can expect a mid-2022 launch.