Introducing the brand new all-electric BMW iX1

BMW are covering all bases with their next exciting release, throwing a mild hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, a diesel, a petrol and an all-electric model into the ring; there really is something for everyone across this range.
Aligning themselves with other luxury, high-performance electric car masters such as Tesla, BMW is embracing the age of electrification, packing performance and range into their compact crossover, whilst delivering combustion-engine versions to fans of the iconic brand that aren’t quite as ready to make the switch. Watch our video where Auto Trader’s very own Rory Reid reveals the latest in the BMW lineup.

Everyone wants to know exactly how much the new BMW X1 and iX1 will cost, and whilst prices are currently unconfirmed (at the point of writing), we expect the entry-level models to start from around £32,000 with top specs, and all-electric models to start from around £50,000.

Described by Auto Trader’s very own Rory Reid as “a baby X5 but better”, the iX1 has been designed to stand out from the crowd, pulling focus to the front of the car with its embossed bonnet, squared-off kidney grille and headlights which are elongated back and outwards. The car’s radar sensor is integrated into the grille for a sleeker appearance whilst air curtains on either side improve airflow.
However, the iX1’s standout detail has to be the blue elements which really pop around the grille and on the lower sections; a nod to our electric future, and if you’re not a fan of the blue, don’t worry too much – you can have it removed.

The new all-electric iX1 will be all-wheel drive, featuring two motors (one at the front and back) and a 62.4 KWH battery pack, meaning this gorgeous new electric addition to the market will have a range of up to 272 miles (just shy of the distance between Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and London!).
The BMW iX1 will rapid charge at 130 kilowatts and that should take the charge all the way from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in under 30 minutes, and if that doesn’t impress you, then maybe its 0-60 time will; 5.7 seconds, making it niftier than the majority of the cars in the same competitive segment.

Although no official release date has been announced by BMW currently, sales are expected to begin around the end of summer, and deliveries will commence towards the end of the year, or early 2023. Will 2023 be the year of the iX1?

BMW went all in on redesigning the interior architecture of the iX1, dragging it away from the same-old interiors of times gone by and propelling it into the modern electric age. Once inside, it feels as spacious and as open as possible.
No expense has been spared in delivering a premium feel throughout the iX1, with leather atop the dash and stitching which bleeds into the door cards, and you can choose between chrome, gloss black or wood effect interior accents to suit your own style. BMW removed all the bulk you’d normally see in the front of their models and gave the iX1’s dashboard a sloping effect, freeing up more room for the driver, giving this new entrant into the electric market a more simplistic vibe. The all-electric iX1 provides 490 litres of storage in the boot, giving families and solo drivers plenty of space, and the petrol variant’s is even bigger! If EVs aren’t your thing, the ICE (internal combustion engine) models have an extra 50 litres of space to store shopping, suitcases and bikes alike, making it a practical choice. So what do you think of BMW’s latest lineup? Are you team X1 or iX1? Watch our video on YouTube and sound off in the comments.