Sharp styled shape is coming in 2027 - but what about the most sizzling edition?

ELECTRIC has come to the X4, the coupe spin of the X3 sports utility, but what is not being discussed regionally yet is the most electrifying format, in serious M Sport guise.

BMW’s regional headquarters in Australia has indicated the new iX4 unveiled internationally will definitely land in the same 50 xDrive format already presenting in the iX3.

However, that’s not the peak presentation. In Europe and for the United Kingdom, there’s a M60 xDrive choice, which in addition to attaching to the iX4 is also confirmed for iX3.

The M60 delivery is pure M Sport, with 21-inch wheels and blue-painted brake callipers as standard, adaptive suspension, M-flavoured detailing inside … and a dual-motor, 456kW/875Nm setup offering a 3.9 second 0-100kmh time.

That’s a step up and more from the 50 xDrive, which has 350kW, 645Nm and 0-100kmh in just 4.9 seconds.

Measuring 4782mm long, 1895mm wide, 1595mm tall, and riding on a 2897mm wheelbase, the iX4 shares all of its key dimensions with the iX3 except height. The iX4's roof is 40mm lower.

Thanks to its fastback-style rear, the iX4 has a drag coefficient of 0.23, an improvement on the more upright iX3's 0.24. This leads to improved range, but performance is unchanged.

Up to 828 kilometres is quoted by BMW under WLTP conditions for the iX4 in its most efficient specification. That’s the iX4 50 xDrive we know now in the iX3, featuring a lithium-ion battery pack of 108.7kWh usable energy.

It can make use of three-phase AC outlets of up to 11kW as standard, with 22kW optional, while peak DC-charging is an impressive 400kW. That means a theoretical 387km of range for just 10 minutes plugged in.

For BMW’s home market there’s a iX4 40 xDrive with a smaller battery – 82.6kWh net capacity – for a still-useful range of up to 638km. Its peak DC-charging rate is pegged at 300kW.

The M60 xDrive variant uses the bigger battery with the faster charging, but its official range peaks at 777km.

The iX4 has the same Panoramic iDrive layout with a weirdly shaped – but very good – 17.9-inch touchscreen, BMW Operating System X and the fantastic Panoramic Vision display running along the base of the windscreen.

All versions come with electrically adjusted front seats; the iX4 M60 xDrive features M Sport seats as standard.

The iX4’s boot holds 490 litres with all seats in use, or up to 1600 litres with the 40:20:40-split rear seatbacks folded down. The equivalent figures for the iX3 are 520 litres and 1750 litres, though the iX4 has the same 58-litre ‘frunk’ under the bonnet.

Local pricing and delivery timing has yet to be shared. the iX3 50 xDrive is around $126,000.