BMW is stepping up the electric performance game with a new variant of its popular iX3 SUV: the iX3 M. Spotted undergoing testing under heavy camouflage, this upcoming model promises to be the most powerful and exhilarating version yet. While details are scarce, spy photographers have already captured key design cues that hint at the considerable power hidden beneath the covers.
The camouflage doesn’t completely obscure the iX3 M’s intentions. A revised front bumper with a lower stance suggests aerodynamic enhancements designed for improved airflow and handling. The absence of the standard iX3’s faux diffuser at the rear indicates an emphasis on maximizing performance rather than mimicking fuel-burning aesthetics. Even more telling, the bonnet features a pronounced bulge — a hallmark design element in BMW M vehicles signifying a potent engine housed beneath.
The test car rolls on massive five-spoke wheels that likely foreshadow even more intricately designed rims on the production model. However, these substantial wheels reveal another key detail: significantly larger brake calipers than those found on the standard iX3. This upsized braking system points to the immense power the iX3 M is expected to wield.
Rumors suggest the iX3 M could pack an astonishing punch, surpassing even the current range-topping 50 xDrive model, which accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in a respectable 4.9 seconds. Drawing on the same Neue Klasse platform as its powerful sibling, the next-generation electric M3, which boasts up to 1,341 horsepower, expectations are high for a similarly potent powertrain in the iX3 M. While BMW’s M division likely reserves headline figures like that for higher-end electric models, estimations place the iX3 M’s output comfortably above 700 bhp with potential room for an even more powerful M60 variant below it.
This performance focus will inevitably impact efficiency. The standard iX3 boasts an impressive 500-mile range courtesy of its large 108.7 kWh battery. However, the iX3 M’s high-performance components are likely to significantly reduce this range.
Pricing remains a mystery for now, but given the existing iX3 M Sport trim starts at £62,755 and its projected performance capabilities, expect the iX3 M to sit closer to the £100,000 mark when it arrives in approximately one year.
