The M badge first appeared on BMW’s slightly-detuned race cars of the 80s, like the E30 M3, and helped cement the brand’s reputation for high-performance vehicles. BMW says M is the most powerful letter in the world, and we agree, seeing it comes with a range of powerful, fast, and desirable SUVs, sedans, and coupes.
Now the electric vehicle age is upon us, and BMW is building M variants to join its growing range of EVs, currently made up of the i4 Gran Coupe, the i7 sedan, and the iX SUV. The BMW iX M60 is the more powerful, elegant version of the iX and is equipped to give Tesla a run for its money. HotCars contributor Bradley Hasemeyer had the chance to sample the BMW iX M60. Here’s everything you should know about BMWs latest high-performance SUV.
10 The BMW iX M60 Is The First Fully-Electric M Sports Activity Vehicle
Whether you are an EV shipper or its biggest denier, big brands like BMW know that EVs are here to stay, and they are already accelerating the development of their EV lineups. These are strange times for enthusiasts, but thankfully, there are high-performance EVs like the iX M60.
It is the first fully electric M Sports Activity Vehicle, but it comes after BMW released the i4 M50 Grand Coupe four-door hatchback is the first electric BMW to get the M treatment.
9 The BMW iX M60 Comes In X5 M Proportions
The BMW X5 M is the closest gas-powered sibling to the iX M60, seeing both come with similar proportions. They have roughly the same length, and the X5 is slightly wider and taller. But, the iX M60 offers more interior space than the X5, with up to 77.9 cubic feet with the rear seats down, compared to 72.3 cubic feet from the X5.
Also, the iX M60 gets a new dedicated carbon-fiber-intensive EV platform, unlike the BMW i4, which sits on a combustion platform from the 4 Series Gran Coupe.
8 The BMW iX M60 Comes With A High-Capacity Battery and High Output Motors
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The iX M60 comes with a large capacity 111.5 kWh lithium-ion battery delivering a respectable 288 miles of driving range while on the standard 21-inch wheels, which drops to 274 miles when you opt for the 22s. This is a significant drop from the xDriver50’s high of 324 miles.
The ix M60 deploys two current-excited AC motors without rare-earth permanent magnets. It gets a similar front-axle motor to the standard iX but with an extra boost from a stronger rear drive unit and a more powerful inverter.
7 The BMW iX M60 Is The Fastest BMW SUV
With the two motors and four-wheel drive, the iX delivers 532 hp and 749 lb-ft of torque to the ground. But this can briefly rise to 610 hp and 811 lb-ft of torque during hard launches. This is enough to propel the 5,769-pound SUV to a zero to 60 mph acceleration in 3.6 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.
Unlike its turbocharged M siblings, the iX M60 has no lag and delivers instant electric torque making it the fastest BMW SUV.
6 The BMW iX M60 Comes With A Minimalist Cabin
The BMW iX M60 with a clean, minimalist interior featuring finely tuned detailed surfaces. It is a luxuriously crafted space with comfortable seats clad in premium leather. The innovative dash features a boldly modern BMW Curved Display and minimalist buttons and controls.
Customers get a very quiet cabin with augmented reality navigation. Also, there is no transmission tunnel hump in the middle which should offer more comfort for rear-seat passengers.
5 The BMW iX M60 Doesn’t Feature A Frunk
Since EVs don’t come with a combustion engine, there is plenty of room left at the front that most automakers turn into a front trunk with the latest generation models. The Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai IONIQ 4, and Porsche Taycan are good examples that provide that extra storage.
But the iX M60 proves that not all new EVs are keen to feature a frunk. You actually can’t open the hood since there is only a small opening for the windshield wiper fluid.
4 The BMW iX M60 Comes With M-Level Braking
BMW luxury cars come with expertly crafted brakes to offer high-performance stopping power that matches the snappy acceleration. Braking on the iX M60 is M-level solid, aided by the massive 348mm vented discs at the front and 345mm at the rear.
The adaptive regen feature on the M60 is one of the best in the business, and there is no tradeoff between regenerative and friction braking. Also, shifting into B mode triggers one-pedal drive that combines acceleration and braking into one action for better control.
3 The iX M60 Comes Equipped With Cutting Edge Tech Features
The iX M60 will excite gearheads who geek out on tech features in their cars. It comes readily equipped to face the next generation of competitors. It has all the premium features available for the iX xDrive50, like rear-axle steering, adaptive cruise control, and park distance control.
In addition, you get the adaptive regenerative braking that adapts based on traffic and GPS data and the synthesized Hans Zimmer sounds that give a background soundtrack.
2 The BMW iX M60 Comes With A Stiffer Suspension Tune
The iX M60 comes standard with the adaptive 2-axle air suspension from the xDrive50, and it keeps the vehicle height the same under all load conditions and adjusts depending on drive mode. The difference comes with the tuning, as the iX M60’s setup gets programmed to improve responsiveness.
Also, the iX M60 gets stiffer front and rear anti-roll bars. These provide better body control but reduce comfort. The summer rubber and the low center of gravity with the low-mounted battery help enhance cornering ability.
1 The BMW iX M60 Comes With A High Starting Price
The BMW iX M60 is anything but cheap. Buyers will have to part with $108,900 before options. That is more than $20,000 more than the base iX. There is much to like about the M60. It doesn’t have enough exclusive goodies to justify the massive price gap.
It has a high starting price, but the iX M60 is a cheaper alternative to its closest rival, the base Tesla Model iX while offering M-car handling and a more futuristic feel.