I have stopped production of the BMW i3 this summer. This was also the end of a small and distinctive electric car which has been a great success in Norway for many years.

The i3 was also BMW’s start to electric cars. It has had no direct successor. Instead, it is the new iX1 which is now taking over as BMW’s entry-level electric car.

The model name X1 debuted back in 2009. This is the most compact SUV from BMW. Well, it will be electric – and it is expected that this will be a big seller in Norway in the future. The starting price is favorable, you get the iX1 from DKK 479,000.

Coming in December

We in Broom have just been on the very first test drive of the car, in the north of Denmark. Here we are talking about pre-production cars that are German-registered – but it won’t be long until we see the iX1 in Norway and on a Norwegian license plate.

The importer states that the first cars will arrive in the country in December. Then it’s about demobiles for the dealers. But it must not be completely ruled out that the first customers get their cars before the turn of the year.

This is how the exciting BMW future will be

Range from 413-438 kilometers

In the model program for BMW, the iX1 fits under the electric SUVs iX and iX3. The newcomer has a battery pack of 64.7 kWt. This gives an official range of 413-438 kilometers, depending on equipment.

The combined electrical consumption is stated to be from 17.3-18.4 kWt per 100 kilometres. The charging system has an output of 11 kW as standard, but the car can also be supplied with an on-board charger of 22 kW. It receives up to 130 kW on fast charging.

Under optimal conditions, the battery is charged from 10 to 80 percent in 29 minutes. A charging session of 10 minutes can provide 120 kilometers of range.

Regular BMW? No – this is Norway’s only one

490 liters of luggage space

With an electric motor on the front axle and one on the rear axle, it becomes four-wheel drive, xDrive in BMW parlance. This is something we know many Norwegian customers want. Big brother iX3 is only available with rear-wheel drive. When the iX1 comes with 4×4, quite a few customers will probably choose this instead.

In terms of size, this is a compact SUV. The iX1 is 4.5 meters long. The luggage compartment is bra, 490 liters which increases to 1,600 liters when you fold down the rear seat. This makes the iX1 a full-fledged family car for many. Permitted trailer weight is also 1,200 kilos.

Used BMW X1 can be a bit of a bargain

Will get a car in May

Inside, the iX1 has BMW’s Curved display, which merges screens for driver information and infotainment into one unit.

The Norwegian importer passed 1,000 copies sold shortly after they opened for orders. This figure has apparently increased significantly since then. 70 percent of the car, which has been ordered to reach the equipment version called Fully Charged, has a starting price of DKK 584,000 – before VAT is introduced on electric cars here at home.

If you order the iX1 now, you can expect to receive the car in May next year.

We’ll be back with more on the BMW iX1 shortly.

Read our test of the BMW X1 as a plug-in hybrid here

Video: Here’s another popular electric car from BMW