Production iX3 Leaked, Is BMW's First Electric SUV

Ahead of a what's undoubtedly an imminent web debut, the German automaker may have let slip some of the photos that show the production BMW iX3. Based on past experience, we should the full monty by the end of the week.

As you can probably tell, the iX3 is just a RWD X3 that's been converted to be an EV. Tesla purists are going to judge it based on these facts, but the construction is not that different from what's going on with the Audi e-tron or the Mercedes-Benz EQC, both of which are going to be direct rivals to this Bavarian.

But we kind of knew that already, as the iX3 was previewed by a pretty similar-looking concept back in October of 2018. It looks 99% the same, an X3 that keeps its lights and major bodywork and gets EV-style streamlined bumpers and playful blue accents.

It's very unassuming. Go pick up your kids in this thing and other BMW X3 owners might not even notice you've arrived in an EV.

The only problem we have is that it potentially still feels like baby steps in the departments that actually matter. Based on BMW's preliminary numbers, the iX3 should have 286 hp and a 74 kWh battery (70 usable) that gives you a theoretical range of 273 miles (440 km) on the WLTP cycle. So it's got less power than the other two German electric crossovers, it's RWD and has the range of a Renault Zoe. Not great, not terrible, as they say at Chernobyl.

The sexy i4 concept promises nearly twice the power, but the iX3 doesn't need to be a hot rod. Most X3 commuters fall within the 190 to 250 horsepower range.