BMW iX3 M Sport

FIRST UK DRIVE Electric SUV heralds the dawn of BMW's latest Neue Klasse era and we think it's a game changer

- By Dean Gibson

IT'S fair to say that the new BMW iX3 is a pretty big deal for the German marque. It's seen as the first car of a new era for the company, much like the arrival of the BMW 1500 in the sixties, which is why the brand has revived the 'Neue Klasse' moniker from that era for this model and its fresh generation of electric vehicles.

The latest iX3 features a sixth-generation EV platform and is loaded with new tech. In terms of UK sales, it's still the M Sport model that will take the lion's share of registrations; current predictions estimate that M Sport will make up a staggering 97 per cent of all the new iX3s ordered in Britain. So for our first experience of BMW's latest electric on home roads, it seemed sensible to focus on that version.

Breaking down the figures even further, there are two levels of M Sport model offered, with the standard version joined by the M Sport Pro in our pictures here for an extra £1,500. The split between standard and Pro is currently expected to be 60:40 in favour of the higher-spec car, and the main additions to it include an illuminated grille, extra gloss-black detailing, red brake calipers, an M-branded steering wheel and sports seats with integrated headrests.

As standard, 20-inch wheels are fitted, but you can spec up 21 or 22-inch items (as fitted to the car in our pictures) at extra cost. Bolting on a set of aerodynamically optimised rims can unlock up to 500 miles of range from the newcomer's vast 113.4kWh battery, too.