car tests

The thinking behind the BMW iX M60

BMW created the M Performance label several years ago to bridge the gap between the regular engine versions and the mighty M models. In BMW’s electric arm, BMW i, the M Performance models are precisely the most powerful versions you can buy right now. After all, the first all-electric M has yet to appear. After the i4 M50, the iX M60 serves as the second range topper. By the way, if you look at the figures, you might get the impression that you are indeed dealing with a real M: 619 hp and 1,015 Nm of torque!

BMW iX M60 specifications: a heavyweight

Of course, the BMW iX M60’s power output by no means tells the whole story. Two electric motors, one on the front axle and one on the rear axle, are the purveyors of the above numbers. Thus, the iX M60 is all-wheel-drive. To transfer the power a bit decently to the asphalt, the iX M60 sits on 275-mm-wide tires all around and 22-inch “M Aerodynamica Bicolor” wheels. Those slippers are quite a contrast to the “bicycle tires” of the BMW i3.

Now you must be very curious about the acceleration time and top speed of the BMW iX M60. Just a little more patience, we’ll get to that in a moment. To put those figures into perspective a bit, you must first have heard the weight of this colossal SUV: 2,559 kilograms, without luggage and passengers. This makes the iX M60 not only the fastest version within the iX range, but also immediately the heaviest. In fact, the xDrive50 weighs about 50 kilograms less. That colossal weight is mainly due to the large battery in the bottom of the BMW iX M60. This is because it has a net capacity of 105 kWh, which in theory should allow you to get 565 kilometers far on one battery charge.

Roller coaster ride

Nice all those figures, but of course, just paper and ink are not enough to tell the whole story. Therefore, after picking up the BMW iX M60, we immediately put the car in “Sport” driving mode, put the left foot on the brake pedal, and hit the “gas pedal” full force. The iX M60 tightens perceptibly, with the rear axle vibrating to stimulate the effect of a burnout.

When we release the brake pedal, the iX M60 shoots away at a truly stunning pace. The sprint to 100 km/h is on it in 3.8 seconds, but the car feels faster. This is mainly because it is incredibly impressive how all that mass is set in motion with apparent ease. The nose rises during acceleration, the soundtrack composed by Hans Zimmer sounds in the background and in your stomach you have the same feeling as when you plunge down in a roller coaster trolley. Madness! On the German Autobahn, you can reach a top speed of 250 km/h with the iX M60. Although you’ll probably be back on the charger soon….

Comfort über alles

The M label has traditionally stood for sportiness, of course. With the iX M60, the air suspension was modified to make the car feel a little sportier, the variable steering was made a little sharper, the braking system received an upgrade and the rear stabilizer bars were strengthened. So do those changes make the car distinctly sporty? No, comfort still prevails in the iX M60. You can throw it into a corner at a nice pace, but everything tells you that that is not really the intention.

The chairs are also partly to blame. The interior of the iX is almost a lounge, with enormously soft seats that offer little lateral support. You do notice that the cheeks of the seat are inflated in sport mode to clamp in better, but when you take a turn hard you still feel like you have to hold on tight to keep from sliding out of the seat. Then again, the seats are fantastic for longer trips.

The iX’s interior space is fine. In the back, you sit like royalty, and with a 500-liter luggage compartment, there is plenty of room for luggage. What also helps is that there is quite a large storage space under the cargo floor for charging cables, for example.

Resolved

The iX M60’s dashboard looks uncluttered above all else. Many things, such as climate control, you have to control through the 14.9-inch touchscreen. On it runs BMW OS 8, the latest version of the iDrive system. The menu structure takes some getting used to if you are used to the previous version of iDrive. Fortunately, in addition to the touchscreen, you do still have a rotary knob on the center console with which to navigate the menus. Especially while driving, this works nicely.

That dial, by the way, is immediately a striking stylistic element in the interior of the BMW iX M60. After all, it is made of crystal glass. The same goes for the automatic’s selector lever and the seat adjustment knobs in the doors. In addition to all this beauty, music lovers can get their fill with the Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Extra special in this regard is that the seats vibrate along with the music to make the sound penetrate you even more.

The nice thing about the iX M60 is that none of this adds up to an endless list of options. In fact, almost all of the above are already standard on the top version. The starting price of 136,655 euros, 31,943 euros more than an iX xDrive50, is not such a bad deal at all in that light. However, the rich standard equipment does not mean that there are no options at all. For example, the panoramic Sky Lounge roof costs 3,524 euros, you pay 1,281 euros for the electrically retractable tow bar and the color Oxidgrau Metallic costs 1,295 euros. All in all, the test car comes to a total of 141,873 euros.

Why an iX M60?

What should we do with the iX M60? It is blazing fast, which makes it fun, but on the other hand, comfort predominates most of all. The xDrive50 seems a better option then, especially since that version adds 60 kilometers of range and is hardly inferior to the M60 in performance and looks. Indeed, if you check the sport package on an iX xDrive50 or xDrive40, the appearance is simply identical. However, if you go to check options on the xDrive50 that are standard on the M60, then the two variants come a lot closer in price again.

So it just depends on your own preference. If you want undisputed thickest iX, then of course you choose the M60. However, the xDrive50 seems like the better deal, especially since you’ll rarely if ever fully tap into all that power in the iX M60. The extra range will benefit you a lot more in daily use. On the other hand, a 619-hp SUV for less than 140,000 euros is a pretty good deal. Choices, choices…