- The 2026 BMW iX gets a larger 110-kilowatt-hour (usable) battery with an estimated 330 miles of range.
- A new entry-level xDrive45 trim with a smaller 96 kWh battery is good enough for 280-300 miles of range.
- It gets a new silicon-based inverter that helps with a more efficient energy transmission from the battery to the motors.
The BMW iX is a range champ. In one of InsideEVs’ long-term tests last year, it covered 351 miles on a single charge, smashing its 307-mile EPA range. Granted, the summer weather helped, but even in winter, it’s a solid road-tripper. Now BMW has upgraded the iX with new trims and a bigger battery which delivers even more range and power along with improved efficiency.
67
BMW
The iX LCI—short for Life Cycle Impulse, or a mid-cycle refresh—ditches the old trims. The xDrive50 and M60 trims are now replaced with trims BMW says better represent the power bump: xDrive45, xDrive60 and M70. They all get “increased energy content,” BMW officials said in November during an early reveal at Plant Spartanburg in South Carolina.
The xDrive45 gets a 95-kilowatt-hour battery pack for a BMW-estimated 280-300 miles of range. The xDrive60 gets 330 miles of range from a larger 110 kWh (usable) battery pack. That’s a small increase from the 105.2 kWh pack that was good for up to 307 miles of EPA range on the old xDrive50. The M70 gets the larger battery, with a slight range penalty from increased power and bigger 23-inch wheels. (The EPA numbers haven’t been released yet.)
Photo by: BMW
An upgraded silicon-based inverter complements the improved battery capacity, BMW officials said. This helps with a more efficient energy transmission from the battery to the motors, meaning fewer losses and more driving range. It also has improved wheel bearings and headlamps that are less energy-hungry than before, contributing to better range. All combined, BMW says the new iX should be 10% more efficient.
The voltage architecture remains the same, so the max charging rate of 195 kW is unchanged. In a previous InsideEVs charging test, the iX went from 10-80% state of charge in about 41 minutes.
The bigger battery also brings more power. Not that the outgoing iX had inadequate power, but the upgraded models dial up things to the next level. The base xDrive45 is good for 402 horsepower. The xDrive60, which replaces the 516 hp xDrive50, is now good for 536 hp. The M70 is good for 650 hp with Boost Mode, a considerable increase from 610 hp on the outgoing M60. BMW didn’t share the torque figures during the early reveal—we’ll update this article as soon as we have that information.
Photo by: BMW
Visually, the changes are subtle. The previously optional $2,500 Sport Package is now standard on the xDrive60. That adds darker and sportier accents to the exterior, like blacked-out front and rear bumpers, dark clear tail lamps and new graphics for the kidney grille that also extend into the headlamp housing. Four new color options join the palette: Arctic Race Blue Metallic, Frozen Deep Gray, Space Silver Metallic and Tanzanite. And if you’re obsessed with details, you can also opt for M Sport brakes with red calipers and an M logo.
Photo by: BMW
The iX LCI aims to turn around a dip in sales. While BMW sold record EVs in the U.S. last year, the iX saw an 11% drop, thanks partly to its steep $87,250 price tag and an influx of affordable options in the electric crossover space. Its more affordable sedan siblings, the i4 and i5, have proven to be rare successes in an SUV-obsessed world.
Now, BMW is hoping the refreshed iX will reclaim some of its lost momentum with the new entry-level variant and the range increase on its top trims. Deliveries are expected to begin in the first half of this year and pricing will be announced at a later date.
Have a tip? Contact the author: [email protected]
