BMW iX 2022

  BMW iX

BMW takes a huge next step into electric luxury vehicles with the iX. Although the i3 and i8 showed BMW's clear interest in alternative-powertrain cars, the new iX is a fully electric look into the brand's future. With a projected driving range of about 300 miles, the 500-hp 2022 BMW iX is an electric SUV that can seat five in comfort and still manage a run to 60 mph in under 5 seconds, the automaker says.

BMW's next generation electric SUV comes only as an AWD, with one electric motor driving the front axle and one driving the rear. They combine for a total of 516 hp. The iX xDrive50's estimated 300-mile range puts it firmly in Tesla Model X and Model Y territory.

Unlike the upcoming electric X3, there's nothing subtle about the iX's interior or exterior design. BMW's controversial and enormous new front grille design makes an impression up front, while up top is a panoramic roof that's the largest glass roof ever fitted to a BMW. Inside, the 2022 iX could be just the vehicle for BMW fans tired of the same basic interior design in every new BMW. From the hexagonal steering wheel to the front seats' integrated headrests and interesting choice of stitching and materials, the 2022 BMW iX is clearly no ordinary luxury vehicle.

With such a high sticker price, the 2022 BMW iX xDrive50 will come with many premium features. An 18-speaker Harman Kardon stereo system is standard, but you can spring for the upsized 30-speaker Bowers and Wilkins system, which integrates some speakers into the SUV's seats. A four-zone climate control system and head-up display are also included, as is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The iX boasts a curved display that integrates together the 12.3-inch driver dash display and the massive 14.9-inch central control display to form what appears to be a single unit angled toward the driver. There's even an interior camera in case anyone makes off with your iX and you need to grab a photo of the thief.

BMW's advancements extend to the iX's exterior, too. Flush door handles require just a touch to become usable, and access is afforded via digital key. The strips of LED headlights at the front corners are the slimmest BMW has ever made for a production vehicle.

The NHTSA and IIHS have yet to test the iX xDrive50 but BMW has given the SUV a handful of active safety features that include emergency braking, cross-traffic and rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitors. Parking sensors are also included, and adaptive cruise control and lane centering are both available.

BMW calls the iX the most sustainably produced vehicle the company has ever made. That's quite a statement, and the automaker says that it's tried to make responsible choices to account for every stage of the product's lifecycle. For example, it worked to reduce its carbon footprint with all its suppliers. Then there are electric motors, which don't use rare-earth materials at all.

Inside, the 2022 iX electric SUV has recycled materials all over. The panels on the doors and liftgate are made from up to 30 percent recycled material, and overall, there's about 132 pounds of recycled plastic used in the SUV.

Using a Level 2 charger at up to 11 kW of power, the iX can be fully charged in 11 hours. At a DC fast-charging station, the iX in xDrive50 form can accept a charge up to 200 kW. Ten minutes of charging, BMW says, will result in a 75-mile gain in range. Or if you've got more time, you can go from 10 percent to 80 percent of the full range in about 40 minutes.