The BMW iX3 was first previewed way back in 2018 as the brand's first all-electric crossover. Now slated to arrive as a 2021 model, the iX3 will instantly jump into battle with the Audi e-tron, Mercedes-Benz EQC, Jaguar I-Pace, and Tesla Model Y. BMW still hasn't announced a reveal date but based on the production-readiness of these latest test mules, we assume an announcement is not far off - possibly in a few weeks as the 2020 Geneva Motor Show. BMW is also planning to reveal a new electric sedan called the i4, which could also debut at Geneva.

We've spotted test mules of the iX3 in the past, reportedly sporting a rear-wheel-drive layout that will only be offered in the United States (other markets will only get all-wheel-drive). In these latest spy shots, the iX3 was seen wearing a new set of wheels and two previously unseen color options.

Previous spy shots of the iX3 have shown a white car, so these black and beige examples are a nice change of pace. The former is also wearing a never-before-seen black wheel design, which could be an aerodynamic wheel option to add a couple of extra miles to the driving range. The beige car wears a more traditional style of wheel you might expect to see on a standard X3, though these could easily have been for winter testing. Judging by these shots, the iX3 will buck the trend of electric cars looking significantly different than their gas-engined counterparts with styling that is very similar to the standard X3.

BMW has said the European iX3 will produce around 286 horsepower with a driving range of around 273 miles based on the WLTP testing cycle. As we've seen with the EPA ratings of the Porsche Taycan Turbo, we expect the range to be significantly lower when they are rated for the US market.