FUTURTASTIC!

BMW’s flagship electric SUV makes a solid case for EVs, but is it BMW enough?

- Anubhav Sharma

Electrification seems unavoidable, and while I am hopeful ICE engines will survive — in larger capacities than water bottles — almost every manufacturer is bringing out cars for the future. BMW probably jumped the gun with i3 in 2013, but there is a new range of i cars that are now ready. Everything is new — the platform, the battery pack, the motor, and the design language. Any new BMW is exciting, but when it is an all-new BMW, the stakes are higher.

BMW calls the iX their flagship SUV and it is much better looking in person than in photos. I may not call it an SUV, but it certainly has presence. The grille, which divides opinion, definitely attracts attention. Most people on the road turn around for a second look, and it is usually one of appreciation. Like most new EVs, the iX looks like a normal car and not a concept car. The iX is big and once you go past the grille, the sculpted bonnet and the headlights look good. That the 22-inch wheels do not seem out of place says something. The rear is a little simple, compared to the front, but nothing to complain about.

It is on the inside where the concept-car feel comes alive and, if I may say so, is executed to perfection. The cabin oozes luxury, in a very futuristic sort of way. The quality of materials, the design, and feel is almost Scandinavian, though better, since it’s been executed by Germans. It is unlike any BMW cabin, in recent times, and is truly refreshing. Except the stalks behind the wheel, and some buttons on the doors, everything looks absolutely new. Step in and you will be impressed. It is like stepping into a lounge, not a car.