derBayerische November/December 2023 - 19

B M W i X M 6 0
■ (Above) The iX's crisp lines and sleekness provide a distinctive look whether in urban, suburban, or rural settings.
Not!
But let's first talk about this outstanding BMW iX M60.
Unlike the 4/i4 and 7/i7, the iX is NOT an EV version of the X5.
While the X5 chassis is a refinement of the proven CLAR monocoque
architecture, the iX features the body structure known as a " Carbon Cage " .
This structure is based on the technology first used for the i3 and i8,
having evolved to the " Carbon Core " that is used with the 7 and 8 Series.
Coupled with an aluminum space frame, the resulting strong and stiff
structure results in a SAV that has a slightly larger exterior than the X3,
but with significantly more passenger and cargo space than the X5.
However, the iX chassis is NOT the much anticipated " Neue Klasse "
architecture. That will debut with the 2025 models.
The exterior design is polarizing. Accentuated with a wonderful
" Oxide Grey " metallic paint color that changes hues with the light, we
thought the exterior design connoted
a classic sculpted, muscular,
and emotional feel, akin to
that of a Michelangelo or Rodin
sculpture. The unique headlight
and taillight designs added a
modern, yet timeless elegance to
the design. The nearly invisible
door and rear hatch cutlines gave
the iX a " one-piece " solid look.
Ironically, the cut lines for the
hood are quite visible; however,
one cannot (e.g., one is NOT
ALLOWED) to open that hood!
Some can not get over the
large grill, while others feel the
rear design is too much " Bangle
Butt " . A polarizing work of art
November I December
always catches attention - which could have been the goal for the iX design.
The sleek aerodynamics of the design cannot be denied. The front
end, rear end, underbody (including the flat-bottomed battery pack) and
wheel area (which includes the wheel wells AND the wheels) result in a 0.25
drag coefficient, which BMW claims adds 40 miles to the overall range.
The airy and spacious interior is enhanced by the optional glass roof.
Using Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal technology, electrical current is
used to modulate the liquid crystals to align in a manner to be either block
transparent or opaque. This eliminates the need for a separate roof liner.
If you would like to know more about this technology, check out these websites:
https://materiability.com/portfolio/polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystals/and
https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/71926.
The interior design is a study in Modern Art. Minimalistic and
■ (Below) The rear design was deemed " heavy " by some.
functional cues are added to enhance the vehicle's environmental aura.
The steering wheel is an updated
design from that used in the i3
and is like the one used in the i7.
Seeing how the BMW M and Msport
vehicles share a common
steering wheel design, we're surprised
that BMW does not do the
same for all of its " i " vehicles.
And there are just enough
design cues to transform the feel
of the large interior from that of
German starkness to one of
Scandinavian luxury.
The front and rear seats are
wonderfully supportive. Even on
the Northern California backroads
(we avoided our typical drive to
Laguna Seca and Monterey
19

https://www.materiability.com/portfolio/polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystals/ https://www.materiability.com/portfolio/polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystals/ https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/71926

derBayerische November/December 2023

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