Two all-new battery-electric vehicles from BMW, the iX Sports Activity Vehicle and i4 Gran Coupé, will make their North American debuts June 1 during two media events at [SPACE] by BMW, located within The Grove, a shopping mall in Los Angeles.
[SPACE] by BMW, described by the German automaker as an immersive brand experience, will be open to the public daily from June 4 through Nov. 30. BMW says it will showcase the latest in performance, innovation and design.
The BMW iX and i4 will reach the U.S. market in early 2022. Pre-orders for both BEVs will begin at 6:01 p.m. EST June 1.
BMW describes the iX as the company’s technology flagship, bringing together the latest developments in electrification, connectivity, design and services. The iX will feature an estimated range of 300 miles (483 km) and two high-efficiency electric motors providing around 500 hp. It is expected to accelerate from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in under 5.0 seconds.
The suggested retail price is expected to be in the mid-$80,000 range and will be announced, along with full specifications, on June 1.
The 4-door i4 Gran Coupé boasts sporty looks and driving dynamics as well as zero local emissions, the automaker says. The i4 model line will be available in different versions covering ranges of up to an estimated 300 miles. With a power output of up to 530 hp, the i4 is expected to accelerate from 0-62 mph in around 4 seconds.
The iX and i4 will be the first two vehicles in Munich’s lineup to feature iDrive 8, the newest iteration of BMW’s user interface, designed to deliver a more natural, interactive and holistic experience between driver and vehicle.
[SPACE] by BMW is a two-story, gallery-inspired brand experience that will feature vehicle displays from the BMW brand and its M, i, Mini and Motorrad affiliates.
“The debuts of the BMW iX and i4 are only the beginning,” says Uwe Dreher, vice president- marketing, BMW of North America. “We wanted to do something special to introduce these new vehicles, which is why we’ve created a brand platform in one of the most important electric vehicle markets in the world.
“But [SPACE] by BMW will go beyond just vehicle debuts and displays,” Dreher says. “We will have a full schedule of programming and events which will create opportunities to engage and connect with consumers.”
The venue will host consumer and stakeholder events featuring collaborations in art, music and lifestyle. There also will be opportunities to test drive many of BMW’s current plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
BMW’s first purpose-built, fully electric vehicle, the i3, was launched in 2013, followed by the hybrid-electric i8 coupe (pictured below) in 2014. The automaker currently offers plug-in hybrid electric variants of its 3-Series, 5-Series, 7-Series, X3 and X5. The fifth generation of BMW’s electric drivetrain technology will be featured in the iX and i4.
Mini, meanwhile, offers the battery-electric Cooper SE and Cooper S Countryman SE PHEV, and the brand is expecting to go all-electric by 2030.
BMW says it expects worldwide sales of its electric vehicles will rise an average of 20% annually between 2025 and 2030. By 2030, fully electric vehicles are expected to account for at least 50% of BMW Group sales.
