The facelifted BMW iX now gets a light-up kidney grille and up to 650bhp

Just when we thought we were getting used to the monstrous kidneys on the iX, BMW goes and changes them with a mid-life facelift. Although actually, at first glance we thought that new front end was a little bit more friendly than before, with more body colour on the bumpers, less aggressive air intakes, blocky LED headlights and simple straight lines in the kidneys. 

Unfortunately, then we learned that BMW had equipped the updated iX with its ‘BMW Iconic Glow’ function to light up those kidneys. Oh dear. Thankfully it’s optional unless you want the new top-spec iX M70 xDrive.

That new top spec version replaces the previous M60 xDrive and produces a quite remarkable 650bhp when in sport mode, and 811lb ft of torque with launch control engaged. Good grief. As a result, 0-62mph takes just 3.8 seconds and it’ll top out at 155mph. Those are supercar numbers.

The rest of the range has also been renamed to reflect a jump in performance, with the iX xDrive45 (previously the xDrive40) getting 402bhp and the iX xDrive60 M Sport (previously the xDrive50) a healthy 537bhp. Both of those are electronically limited to 124mph. BMW says the jumps in power come from a fine-tuning of the drive system, and of course all versions get a motor on the front and rear axles for all-wheel drive.

There have been improvements to efficiency too thanks to “advancements in battery technology” and new inverter technology to reduce losses while the energy is transferred from battery to electric motors, and BMW says that the iX improved its energy consumption figures by more than eight per cent during the WLTP test cycle. 

There are bigger batteries now too – the entry-level xDrive45 gets a 94.8kWh unit for 374 miles of range and 175kW rapid charging, while the xDrive60 is the one you want if you’ve really got to go a long way. That deploys a 109.1kWh battery for a claimed range of 426 miles and rapid charging at speeds of up to 195kW.

The M70 xDrive gets the same charging capability as the xDrive60 and a whopping 108.9kWh of usable battery capacity, but because it’s got all of that power you’re looking at a claimed range of 366 miles.

To deal with the extra power and the increase in weight from bigger batteries, BMW has fitted the updated iX with a hydraulic rear axle support bearing. The M70 also gets adaptive air suspension with ride level control, M-specific suspension tuning, electronically controlled shock absorbers, different anti-roll bars, a beefier braking system and rear-wheel steering.

You’ll also get darkened headlights and taillights as part of the standard M Sport Pro package, plus 22-inch M-spec alloy wheels as standard, although massive 23s are apparently an option.

There’s an enhanced M Sport trim for the rest of the range too with sporty bumpers front and rear, gloss black trim, larger air intakes, M-spec sports seats, a three-spoke leather steering wheel, M-specific pedals and a gloss black centre console.

The rest of the interior remains relatively similar, with the iDrive running BMW Operating System 8.5. In case you’re wondering, that’s not the new panoramic system that’ll make its debut on the Neue Klasse models. Still, console yourself with the fact that there are seven new exterior paint colours to choose from. Not sure about that beige, mind.

BMW says that deliveries of the updated iX will begin in the UK in May this year, with prices starting at £74,400 for the xDrive45, £92,200 for the xDrive60 M Sport and a not insignificant £113,300 for the M70 xDrive. Thoughts on the iX these days, folks?