Today was a very big day for BMW Philippines, with SMC Asia Car Distributors Corporation (the official importer and distributor of the brand) bringing in not just a brand-new sports coupe, but also the marque’s first-ever electric vehicle, which coincides with the recent introduction of the new electric vehicle law for our country.
Let’s start with (obviously) the biggest offering at the moment, the iX. This is the brand’s first EV in our market, going up against the likes of the Audi e-Tron SUV (and other premium EVs).
Say what you want, but the iX offers a very distinct and unique look even when compared to its fellow BMW vehicles. The large kidney grille is present (which is a panel that houses all the radars and sensors for the car), and the exterior has been optimized for aerodynamics, evident in the flush door handles and aerodynamic 21-inch wheels it rides on.
The interior is a big change over current BMW models on offer. It has an entirely new minimalist design that manages to take advantage of the brand-new EV platform to offer an incredibly spacious yet luxurious cabin.
It has the new iDrive 8 interface running on what BMW calls the “Curved Display.” This new display is, well, curved to the driver, and features a massive 13-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto in that one expansive glass panel.
There’s olive-tanned natural leather, satin brightwork, and ambient lighting. And you can’t forget luxuries like the four-zone climate control and the 18-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, which is essential to listen to the “Iconic Sounds” composed by Hans Zimmer to spice the EV experience up.
The BMW eDrive powertrain has a dual motor configuration, meaning it packs all-wheel drive, and it should be good for 326hp and 630Nm. It has a range of as much as 425km from a 76.6kWh battery.
It comes with driver-assistance features like a front-collision warning system that detects oncoming traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians. There are the cruise control with a braking function, the exit warning function (that helps warn you of pedestrians and cyclists before you open the door), the remote theft recorder, and the parking assistant with reversing assistant.
The iX will retail for P6,290,000, and it comes with a wall box charger that will be installed in the customer’s home, a five-year BMW factory warranty, an eight-year warranty for the battery, and a six-year BMW Service Inclusive warranty.
As for the 2-Series Coupe, there’s only one model on offer: the 220i M Sport. This is targeted at the enthusiasts out there who want a traditional, driver-focused experience.
While this isn’t a full-fat M model (that’s coming soon), the 220i is fitted with the M Sport package, so there’s the M Aerodynamic Package that comes with the M High Gloss Shadow Line (black trim), and 18-inch wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 ZP rubber.
Unlike the iX, this has the older BMW cockpit design that many are used to right now. This interior has Sensatech leather and Alcantara upholstery, piano-black accents, and ambient lighting found in the door cards.
There are M Sport Seats up front, and also livable rear seats (should you need to carry four people in the car) that also fold down to let you bring longer cargo. There’s a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with the iDrive 7 OS, which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s a 10-speaker sound system.
The 2.0-liter turbocharged in-line-four engine (code-named B48B20A) has 184hp and 300Nm, more than enough for a vehicle of this size. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and that power is sent to the rear wheels (no all-wheel drive here). It also features the M Sport Suspension, so you can expect better handling from this specific model.
As for the price? The 220i M Sport costs P3,690,000, which is a fair price for all the luxuries and the features you’ll be getting.
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