Ikea offers everything from meatballs to affordable furniture, and it appears this varied selection was enough to tempt one BMW iX1 driver to make a pit stop. Thanks to their shopping spree, we’re getting a close up look at the electric crossover which is slated to be introduced later this year. While the model is heavily disguised, we can see it will feature a fully enclosed grille. Its appearance appears to mimic a traditional grille and this is a departure from the controversial units used on the i4, iX and iX3.
The grille is flanked by slender
headlights and resides above a sporty intake with a honeycomb mesh insert. We
can also see vertical air curtains and a forward facing camera. Continuing down
the sides, there’s an evolutionary design with streamlined bodywork and
flush-mounted door handles. Despite the design déjà vu, the pronounced
character line has been dropped and the side skirts appear thicker to help hide
the crossover’s battery pack.
There isn’t much to see out back, but the
iX1 features an evolutionary rear end with taillights that are a bit sleeker
than before. Of course, the biggest visible differentiator between the X1 and
iX1 is the latter’s lack of an exhaust system. Spy photographers managed to
snap an interior picture, but the cabin was covered in camouflage. While this
is disappointing, previous prototypes have been spotted with a vastly improved
interior that features a freestanding digital instrument cluster and infotainment
system. The model will also adopt slender air vents, a minimalist shifter, and
a new three-spoke steering wheel.
BMW has been tight-lipped about
specifications, but the iX1 will be a Gen 5 EV and benefit from the latest
powertrain developments. There have been conflicting reports about what we can
expect, but BMW could offer an entry-level variant that uses an upgraded
version of the MINI Electric’s powertrain. Reports have also suggested there
will be a higher-end variant and it will presumably use a larger battery and a
more powerful electric motor.
