![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/bmw-ix-m60-test-drive-14-scaled.jpg\" "\\"BMW")
<\/a> BMW iX M60 Oxidgrau<\/figure>\nThe steering, while lighter than traditional BMW hydraulic setups, remains precise. Importantly, it\u2019s even pretty talkative \u2014 more so than much of the current lineup, anyway \u2014 and consistent. There\u2019s a natural progression, and the iX resists the floaty, disconnected sensation that plagues many large vehicles regardless of powertrain. Credit the low center of gravity from its battery pack and well-judged suspension tuning that leans toward control rather than excess softness. Perhaps most notably, the iX does all this while remaining eminently comfortable. The cabin is a serene place to spend your miles. While the silent EV powertrain definitely does some of the heavy lifting here, it\u2019s also a continued credit to the chassis wizards at BMW.<\/p>\n
Despite being arguably more 7 Series than sports car, the iX manages to not leave you wanting for speed, either. Generous, immediate, and uninterrupted power, combined with the car\u2019s natural surefootedness, makes dropping the hammer still feel like an event, even with no engine noises. Especially when courting the iX M70<\/a>. It may not chase performance figures outright, but it carries the same sense of engineered intentionality that defines BMW\u2019s best efforts. For a large electric SUV \u2014 BMW\u2019s first, mind you \u2014 it\u2019s an achievement.<\/p>\n New range-topping models \u2014 which the iX sort of was \u2014 typically introduce one or two new features that become somewhat central to brand identity. BMW went a little off-script with the iX, then. The iX brought a handful of never-before-seen features<\/a> to the public. Some were subtle, others gimmicks, most were useful. Regardless, together they reflected a willingness to rethink familiar elements.<\/p>\n Take the electrochromic sunroof. Instead of a conventional shade, the glass itself transitions from transparent to opaque at the push of a button. Its usefulness cannot be overstated \u2014 especially as someone formerly of the American Southwest, where 300+ days of sun each year can have you feeling a bit\u2026heated by the middle of the summer. Strictly functional upgrade over a regular sunroof? Perhaps not \u2014 and as our iX xDrive45 long term review<\/a> indicated, something else for the kids to wonder aloud\/demand answers to. Then there\u2019s the \u201cself-healing\u201d kidney grille. Because the iX doesn\u2019t need traditional airflow for a combustion engine, the grille becomes a panel housing sensors and driver-assistance hardware. Its polyurethane coating can absorb and recover from minor scratches, which sounds like a small detail until you consider how exposed that surface is in daily use.<\/p>\n Even mundane tasks were rethought. The washer fluid refill is cleverly hidden behind a roundel on the hood, preserving the clean design while making access intuitive. Of course, none of these features individually redefine the segment. But collectively they signal a design philosophy that values integration and user experience over spectacle. In fact, all were part of a \u201cShy Tech\u201d initiative BMW started around the time the iX launched. If \u201cShy Tech\u201d sounds familiar, it\u2019s because BMW continues to talk a lot about it when discussing our next topic: the Neue Klasse cars.<\/p>\n More than anything \u2014 and clearer today than when the car debuted \u2014 the iX served as a rolling thesis for BMW\u2019s electric future. Long before the BMW Neue Klasse<\/a> models begin arriving, the iX laid much of the conceptual groundwork. Its interior pushed toward a reductionist aesthetic we see further refined in the NK cars. Fewer buttons, increased reliance on a central display, and an emphasis on open space and sustainable materials.<\/p>\n Externally, the iX experimented with cleaner surfaces and a more monolithic form. Unlike the BMW i4, which debuted alongside the iX, the iX is a standalone model not based upon an ICE-powered model. While its design sparked debate and continues to divide audiences, it undeniably broke from legacy proportions. Are Neue Klasse cars the spitting image of the iX? Of course not. But the familial resemblance is there; looking back, it will be clear where on the timeline the iX sits.<\/p>\n In hindsight, the iX feels, fittingly, like a bridge. It connected BMW\u2019s past \u2014 defined by driver engagement \u2014 with a future shaped by electrification and software. Even as it exits the U.S. market after 2026, its influence will persist in the vehicles that follow.<\/p>\nGimmicks and Features: The iX is Interesting<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThe BMW iX Previewed the Future<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nDon\u2019t Cry Because It\u2019s Over\u2026<\/h3>\n