BMW unveils electric alternative to V8 power

The electric muscle under the interesting skin of BMW’s latest iX crossover points to the future without V8s.

Positioned as a green alternative to the twin-turbocharged V8-powered BMW X5 M and X5 M 50i, the new BMW iX M60 brings punch worthy of the brand’s “M” badge.

Dual electric motors in the luxury SUV serve up 455kW and 1100Nm for brief periods of maximum attack thrust, and a stout 397kW/1015Nm in everyday motoring.

That’s enough for the family wagon to reach 100km/h in just 3.8 seconds, an exact match for the X5 M Competition and its 460kW/750Nm V8.

A 250km/h top speed and claimed range of 566 kilometres help make a case for going green.

Expect to see a version of the high-performance electric driveline in a successor to the V8-powered BMW M5 sedan.

While the brand has not stopped making V8s just yet, the big 4.4-litre engine looks likely to be retired in the near future.

BMW’s M Division helped tune the sophisticated traction control and adaptive air suspension of the range-topping iX, which uses carbon fibre to keep weight in check.

The brand hasn’t said how much it weighs, but the huge battery needed to fuel those electric motors is likely to push the scales well beyond two tonnes.

And there’s no shortage of luxury inside, with heated and ventilated leather seats, a Bowers and Wilkins stereo, laser headlights and huge digital displays completing the package.

Unveiled at the CES show in Las Vegas, BMW’s vision for the ultimate electric car is vastly different to the lightweight and sustainably-minded Mercedes-Benz EQXX concept.

But unlike the Benz, the BMW will go on sale in Australia this year.

Prices for the range-topping iX have not been announced, but it will cost more than the less-powerful xDrive50 model currently sold for $169,900 plus on-road costs.

Originally published as BMW unveils green alternative to V8 power