MIXED FEELINGS

M DIVISION WAVES THE WAND TO DELIVER BMW'S FASTEST ELECTRIC VEHICLE TO DATE... BUT IS THAT ENOUGH TO EARN ITS STRIPES?

- DANIEL GARDNER

SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS an iX M60? Well, it’s not the first pure-electric vehicle to get an M badge on its boot (that milestone was claimed by the i4 M50) but it is the M Division’s first EV built on a dedicated electric platform. That, if nothing else, is a statement of intent from M, and demonstration that it’s serious about battery power and performance in unison.

In Australia, the iX range was introduced by three variants including two versions of the xDrive 40 and a single xDrive 50, but the new M60 ups the ante in all areas – including the price. When it arrives later this year, BMW will ask $222,900, an increase of $53K over the xDrive 50.

For that cash you get more performance and equipment, naturally, but let’s start with what’s not included – a bigger battery. The M60 carries over the same 112kWh lithium-ion unit from the 50 but through a little M-agic, performance has been significantly boosted. We’ll come to exactly how shortly but the compromise is a drop in range. Compared to the 50’s 620km max, the M60 offers 566km, although the former figure is ADR while the latter is under the WLTP system. When it’s time for a top-up, the 400-volt system supports up to 195kW charging (but not ultra-fast 350kW charging) for a 10-80 percent charge in 35 minutes, or about 150km of range pumped in every 10 minutes when connected to the fastest charging hardware.