Sheer Electric Pleasure – BMW EV’s in the Sunshine State

Gulf Insider drives BMW’s exciting new iX and i4 in Florida, USA. By Charlie Cooksey

During August, I was in Florida – America’s Sunshine State, for a few wonderful weeks. While there, I had the opportunity to enjoy driving various cars stateside.

First, I hired a couple of American ‘muscle cars’, a Ford Mustang followed by a Chevrolet Camaro. Both were convertibles and I loved them. Driving these iconic American cars for a couple of weeks felt somehow satisfying. But things started to get interesting when BMW North America kindly provided me with BMW’s new electric iX for a week.

The iX is an SUV powered by two electric motors providing all-wheel drive. Two versions are available, the xDrive50 (516 hp – zero to 100 kph in 4 seconds), and the M60 (610 hp – zero to 100 kph in just 3.3 seconds). This is Ferrari worthy power!

The iX has a spacious, luxurious, and futuristically designed interior. On the centre console, there is a large digital dashboard display controlled by a cool ‘crystal’ rotary knob.

Its large panoramic sunroof features electrochromic shading – a new feature found on only a few vehicles.

There’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an 18-speaker Harman/Kardon stereo system.

The battery offers a driving range of up to 500 kilometres per charge, and the iX can recharge from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 35 minutes when hooked up to a 200-kW connection. Granted, the USA is far more well

The iX is an SUV powered by two

electric motors providing all-wheel drive.

equipped with the infrastructure for EV’s compared to the GCC.

Driving on the long, wide straight American roads was a dream – especially on the Interstate-95 going North and South as I did a bit of commuting between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach. Using all the wonderful BMW technology of distance control and assisted driving, other than having to keep my hand on the wheel, she virtually drives herself. This made long distance driving wonderfully comfortable whilst I enjoyed whatever podcast I was listening to.

The iX is an amazing vehicle that ticks all the boxes – power, comfort, design, space, build quality, technology… and not least enjoyment.

BMW i4

From the French Riviera to Florida’s Atlantic Coast, I also had the chance to drive the BMW i4 for a couple of days. The last time I drove the i4 was during a regional drive event in Nice, France. BMW’s i4 is essentially an electric version of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. It’s a fantastic drive and probably one of the most desirable cars on sale today.

It offers all the same technologies and luxuries as the iX, and is available as an eDrive40 (rear-wheel drive, one electric motor), and M50 (four-wheel drive, two motors – producing 536hp!).

To arrange a test drive in Bahrain, call EuroMotors on 1775 0750 or visit www.euromotors.com.bh

A special thanks to BMW North America for providing us with the BMW iX and i4 to review.