BMW's upcoming all-electric BMW iX3 has been spotted with minimal disguise on German roads ahead of its launch next year.
The new images are the most revealing prototype shots of the Jaguar I-Pace and Audi E-tron rival since the company previewed the iX3 concept at the Beijing motor show in April 2018.
The latest shots reveal a car that appears close to production and the minimal camouflage wrap highlights a number of previously unconfirmed details about the model's design. The lack of any visible exhaust pipe and presence of an 'Electric Test Vehicle' warning sticker are obvious giveaways of the car's identity.
BMW's trademark kidney grille is also blanked off, as with the concept, but elsewhere the iX3 retains a strong resemblance to its petrol- and diesel-powered counterpart. The car appears to sit comfortably alongside other models in BMW's stable. Any necessary modifications to the standard BMW X3 appear to have been subtly concealed, whereas the radical designs of the earlier BMW i3 and BMW i8 were heavily influenced by the new technology they exhibited.
The car's zero-emission powertrain will be at the heart of 11 upcoming electric vehicles from the German car maker. BMW is allowing potential buyers of the iX3 to register their interest online, ahead of the model's planned 2019 release date.
BMW reveals iX3 electric SUV concept at 2018 Beijing motor show
BMW says lessons learnt through the establishment of its i sub-brand and recent developments surrounding its upcoming iNext model have allowed it to provide the new Concept iX3 with a “new dimension” in performance, operating range, weight and packaging over its first dedicated electric-powered production model, the three-year-old i3.
The new pure-electric SUV, unveiled at the 2018 Beijing motor show, closely previews a new X3-based model being developed as a rival to the likes of the Jaguar I-Pace, Audi E-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQC.
The production version of the iX3 is planned to be the third pure-electric model from the BMW Group, following on from the recently facelifted i3 and an upcoming production version of the earlier Mini Electric due out in 2019.
