The BMW iX1, the fully electric variant of the X1, is completing the last leg of series development testing in the Arctic Circle ahead of the imminent debut. BMW published a set of pictures showing camouflaged prototypes of the EV driving in the snow, following the official teaser sketch. The iX1 made its spy debut as early as November 2020, with prototypes having evolved since with production-spec lighting units. The camouflage wrap is still hiding the design details but as with our own spy shots, we can see the evolutionary silhouette of the SAV with cleaner surfacing, a larger grille and more aggressive LED headlights. Despite sharing most of the body panels, the iX1 will have a number of styling differences with the regular X1, including redesigned bumpers, a covered grille, and blue accents in line with BMW’s i range of products.
The iX1 is using the fifth-generation BMW
eDrive technology. It comes with dual electric motors – one on each axle –
combined with an electric all-wheel-drive system and what BMW calls
“fast-acting near-actuator wheel slip limitation tech”. There’s no word about
the combined power output, but the estimates for the electric range of the SAV
are between 413-438 km in WLTP standards.
The photos were shot on snow-covered roads
and frozen lakes of BMW Group’s winter testing center in Arjeplog, northern
Sweden, close to the Arctic Circle. As with every automaker, BMW utilizes the
low temperatures and winter road conditions to put every vehicle system to the
test. Cold weather is a good environment to test the endurance of the battery
pack, the electronics and the charging technology, while the ice tracks helped
BMW engineers to adjust the chassis and suspension close to the dynamic limits.
Alongside the fully electric iX1, BMW tested the ICE-powered and plug-in hybrid
variants of the next-generation X1 on the same premises. The entire X1/iX1
family will be produced on the same assembly line in the Regensburg plant in
Germany.
BMW confirmed the debut of the X1 in
autumn 2022, with the EV set to expand the range immediately after that. The
iX1 is the third X-branded vehicle to get a fully electric powertrain following
the larger iX3 and iX which are already on sale.
