iX

Make
BMW
Segment
SUV

Although production is not due to get underway until 2021, the production-spec version of the BMW iNext concept is due to be unveiled in the near future, possibly at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show later this month. While we still wait for official confirmation on that, as well as additional BMW announcements, one thing still remains unanswered, its name.

The name iNext is not expected to stick around, but since this is a huge deal for BMW, being an all-electric SUV and all, an instantly recognizable and unforgettable name is necessary. What will it be called? Bimmerpost has an interesting thread full of information about future products courtesy of unnamed sources. One of these pieces of info buried deep within the post claims the production iNext will simply be called iX.

Not very original, right? Yes, but the name works well with the rest of BMW's future electric vehicles, such as the also upcoming i4 and iX3. The BMW iX, assuming that's the chosen name, will compete directly against the similarly named Tesla Model X. Its direct German competitors include the Audi e-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQC.

Another earlier report claims the iX will instead be called i6, but iX does make it stand out more. What's more, the iX's battery sizes may no longer be used for model designation, but rather xDrive40, xDrive50, and M50 xDrive. Technical details remain unknown, but the iX/i6 could offer a maximum all-electric driving range of 435 miles. To compare, the highest trim Model X has a 325-mile range.

The base trim will feature a 63 kWh battery pack and a total of around 335 horsepower. Expect 0-62 mph to happen in about 4.5 seconds. The mid-range version will see a 92 kWh battery, 429 hp and a 3.5-second 0-62 time. The range-topper will have not one but two electric motors, so one at each axle, for a combined total of over 500 hp and a 120 kWh battery. Level 3 semi-autonomous driving will likely be available, if not standard.