BMW has been making sixth-generation electrical motors on the Steyr plant since final September. Nonetheless, these Gen6 “electrical engines,” as the corporate calls them, have been a part of a pre-series section. Now, the precise {hardware} that can energy future EVs has entered sequence manufacturing on the plant in Austria. The primary utility will likely be within the new iX3, particularly the 50 xDrive mannequin launching later this yr.
In comparison with the Gen5 engine powering the outgoing CLAR-based iX3, its successor will minimize vitality loss by 40%. Moreover, BMW has decreased weight by 10% and slashed prices by 20%. Mixed with different tweaks, the electrical crossover’s total effectivity is bettering by round 20%. The German luxurious model reiterates that will probably be doable to cowl 800 kilometers (497 miles) within the WLTP cycle with the iX3 50 xDrive.
Nonetheless, we reckon a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive model ought to go even farther, probably hitting the 900 km (559 miles) already talked about by BMW. If the iX3 received’t be capable to attain that, the reborn i3 ought to, on condition that the sedan could have a sleeker physique with a decrease drag coefficient. The sedan can also be going to weigh lower than the equal crossover.
The primary batches of BMW’s so-called “e-engine” are headed to the brand new Debrecen plant in Hungarythe place the next-gen iX3 will likely be assembled from the top of this yr. Later in 2026, the i3 sedan in-built Munich will get the identical Gen6 motors. Extra EVs will profit from the all-new electrical motors, together with the CLAR-based iX5, iX6, and iX7.
Relying on the appliance, future BMWs could have one, two, three, or 4 motors. Nonetheless, there received’t be any front-wheel-drive automobiles within the Neue Klasse period. Entrance-mounted asynchronous motors (ASM) don’t have a built-in gearbox and are much less highly effective than the rear-mounted electrically excited synchronous motors (EESM). This additionally means future MINI EVs with Gen6 motors will come solely in rear- and all-wheel-drive configurations. With the danger of stating the apparent, there received’t be any front-wheel-drive Rolls-Royce or ALPINA fashions both.
As for energy, 4 EESM variations are deliberate, starting from 268 hp (200 kW) to 402 hp (300 kW). The ASM will include both 161 hp (120 kW) or 241 hp (180 kW). BMW M has already mentioned that, ought to there be a quad-motor EV someday, it could be able to delivering a mixed one megawatt of energy, so a staggering 1,341 hp. Nonetheless, BMW isn’t committing to creating an electrical supercar, at the very least not but.
Supply: BMW
