If the BMW now has two full-electric vehicles in the Philippines. Joining the bigger iX – first presented in April last year by official BMW distributor and service provider SMC Asia Car Distributors Corporation – is the iX3.
The timing also couldn’t be better.
About a fortnight prior, President Marcos Jr. had released Executive Order No. 12, which approved the nixing of tariff on electric vehicles. The effect on the iX3 Sports Activity Vehicle (BMW’s term for SUVs) was a significant cut on the original price of P5.29 million – down by P700,000 to P4.59 million. This is certainly a very reasonable tag by EV (and premium) standards). This also effectively lets the iX3 come within hailing distance of its X3 xDrive20d Professional sibling, which is priced at P4.29 million.
The iX3, after all, is really the X3 – albeit with an electric motor rather than an internal combustion engine. It is the first BMW to be offered in four drivetrains – a diesel, plug-in electric vehicle, gas, and full electric. This unrivalled flexibility in platform helps to make the iX3 both familiar and fresh while giving buyers their druthers. The iX is posh and boasts almost spaceship-like qualities; the iX3 can pass for a garden-variety X3 – which is very good if you’re already happy with the model line’s looks and want your vehicle tailored like a familiar BMW.
BMW Philippines President Spencer Yu said as much. “The iX3 is a very compelling option to a lot of first-time buyers,” he declared, adding, “It makes EV motoring closer to the general public… It will feel, behave and drive a BMW. Those of you who are familiar with driving our X3 will not find a difference here, except for the fantastic torque.”
Yu promised that the iX3 is merely the “the first in a series of BEVs (that the company will) be introducing this year. This is part of (BMW Philippines’) continued promise to bring more electrification in a more modern package to the Philippine motoring public.
The iX3 gets blue accents to indicate its electric drivetrain, and the signature kidney grill is bereft of too many holes because it doesn’t have an internal combustion engine that needs to breathe and be ventilated.
Powering the iX3 is the fifth-generation BMW Group eDrive system, which features a current-excited synchronous motor and a 400-volt lithium-ion battery. Range is a WLTP-verified 460 kilometers on a single charge. The electric motor serves up a maximum of 286hp and 400Nm, and can speed the vehicle from a standstill to 100kph in 6.8 seconds – onward to an electronically limited top speed of 180 kph.
In a release, BMW said, “The power density of the electric motor in the first-ever BMW iX3 is 30% greater than that of existing fully electric vehicles from the BMW Group. The motor displays efficiency of up to 93%, in comparison to under 40% for combustion engines.”
The acquisition price tucks in a Wallbox-branded alternating current (AC) home charger to be installed by BMW’s accredited “i partner.” Charging from zero to 100% can take as little as 7.5 hours, but users are reminded to keep the charge level no less than 20%. Direct current (DC) charging on a 150kW charge point can take as little as 10 minutes for 100 kilometers of range. Of course, it’s not a good idea to always use a rapid charger as it will degrade the battery more quickly. The iX3 is compatible with all Type 2 public charge points in the country.
Adaptive Recuperation, meanwhile, helps to extend the range. “The intensity of the brake energy regeneration is adapted to the road situation described by data from the navigation system and the driver assistance system sensors,” reported BMW. The iX3’s electric motor is said to be produced without employing rare earth metals. It instead uses secondary raw materials such as manufacturer aluminum castings and thermoplastics. Even electricity used in the actual production process of the vehicle is “green.”
The lone variant (for now) is fitted with BMW’s “Inspiring” equipment line, giving it an M Aerodynamic Package, M high-gloss Shadow line, M roof rails, aerodynamically designed 19-inch light-alloy wheels, and adaptive LED headlights. And while it may feel like it, the seats are not wrapped in hide or leather but man-made materials – specifically, perforated Sensatec. However, it does get an M leather steering wheel, added to an M headliner in Anthracite, electronically adjustable seats with memory function on the driver’s side, fine-wood trim, a panoramic glass sunroof, acoustic glazing for the front door windows, ambient lighting, three-zone automatic climate control system, the BMW Comfort Access System, and automatic tailgate operation.
The BMW Live Cockpit Professional includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch widescreen display predicated on the iDrive Operating System 7.0. The SAV also gets a wireless smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto preparation, remote software upgrade, and telephony with wireless charging. Harmon Kardon speakers are fitted within as standard. Rear seatbacks can be split/folded 40:20:40 – with load capacity able to be expanded from 510 to a maximum of 1,560 liters.
For safety, the iX3 receives High Beam Assistant, Parking Assistant, cruise control with braking function, Acoustic Protection for pedestrians, Active Protection, plus Park Distance Control with front and rear sensors, and a tire pressure monitoring sensor.
Buying the BMW iX3 M Sport also comes with a 5-year factory warranty, 8-year high-voltage battery warranty, and 6-year BMW Service Inclusive warranty. The model is sold at RSA Motors Libis and RSA Motors Greenhills.