BMW put the new iX3 through the paces, and it still drove 500 miles on a single charge
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- BMW drove a new iX3 50L xDrive Long Wheelbase prototype 500 miles (over 800 km) around the Qinghai Lake grand loop on public roads in China without stopping to charge, finishing with 2% battery remaining
- The iX3 LWB prototype achieved 20.3 kWh per 100 miles (4.9 miles per kWh) while climbing over 6,500 feet (nearly 2,000 meters) through heavy snowfall, intense rain, and high-altitude sunshine at temperatures from 33.8°F to 69.8°F
- BMW estimates the iX3 Long Wheelbase could reach 518–522 miles (835–840 km) under the same real-world driving conditions, and the LWB is 108 mm longer than the standard iX3 to add rear-passenger space
- The iX3 50 xDrive outlasted every EV in NAF's Summer El Prix range test days earlier, covering 485 miles (781 km), and is the first Neue Klasse model on sale
- US pricing for the 2027 BMW iX3 50 xDrive starts at $61,500 with an EPA-estimated range of up to 434 miles, while Germany lists the iX3 40 at €63,400 ($73,000) and the iX3 50 xDrive at €73,925 ($85,200)
- The LWB variant is built specifically for China and select overseas regions like Southeast Asia and is not planned for the US market
Why it matters: BMW is using brutal real-world conditions — snow, rain, 6,500 feet of climbing — to validate the iX3 as its Neue Klasse flagship, and the 500-mile result with 2% battery still in reserve directly counters EV range anxiety skepticism. A 108 mm longer wheelbase reserved for China and Southeast Asia signals BMW is conceding rear-cabin space competition to local luxury EV rivals in the world's largest EV market.
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