Joining the list of luxury EVs is what we’ve received today – the BMW iX. It might be late to join the party, but get this – its Indian market launch is alongside several other international markets. In other words, BMW hasn’t wasted any time at all to get the iX to our shores. At the moment, the pure-electric crossover arrives in just one variant – xDrive40. And since it is imported as a CBU (Completely Built Unit), the Rs 1.16 crore price tag is pinchy, to say the least.

The iX, in xDrive40 form, has two electric motors, one for each axle. That gives birth to an electric all-wheel-drive system. As we’ve seen in multiple other EVs, the rear electric motor packs more punch than the front one. The total system output, however, is 322bhp and 630Nm of torque. As a result, the iX xDrive40 can hit 100kmph from a standstill in 6.1 seconds and reach 200kmph before running into the electronic speed nannies. Those performance numbers aren’t shabby for something that weighs nearly 2.5 tonnes (unladen).

The powertrain gets juices from a 76.6 kWh (71 kWh net) lithium-ion battery pack. According to WLTP standards, the iX xDrive40 can travel between up to 425km on a single charge. Charging? There are multiple ways to go about doing that. BMW India offers four options – a 2.3kW standard charger; a fast charger ranging from 2.3kW to 11kW; a 7.4kW single-phase charger; and an 11kW three-phase charger. So, depending on which options one opts for, the wait time from a zero to 100 per cent charge will vary between 36 hours and 7.25 hours.

Of course, the BMW iX supports fast DC charging as well. For instance, while plugged into a 50kW charger, the wait time from a zero t0 80 per cent charge is 73 minutes. However, if you can find a 150kW charger, which is the maximum the car can take in this spec, the time reduces to just 31 minutes.

In terms of looks, the iX gives a glimpse of how future BMWs will look. The grille is still very prominent, but the rest of the design is relatively clean and uncluttered. And that holds for the interior as well.

As you’d expect, the list of features is long. Some highlights include auto-levelling LED headlamps, cruise control, heated and electric ORVMs, ambient lighting and four-zone automatic climate control. Other features include massaging front seats with memory function, 21-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a head-up display and an 18-speaker 655-watt Harman Kardon sound system.

Besides those, there are many safety and assistance systems in place as well. The list includes Attentiveness Assistant, tyre pressure monitoring system, Front Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning and automatic closing of windows.

BMW India offers an 8 year/1,60,000km warranty for the battery. Alongside, there’s a two-year roadside assistance membership as well. The BMW iX rivals the Mercedes-Benz EQC, Jaguar I-Pace and the Audi e-tron in India. So, which one is your favourite?