BMW is going electric-only with the X4. The outgoing combustion model ended production in 2025 with no gasoline successor planned, and the 2027 BMW iX4 is its replacement: a fully electric SUV coupe built on the Neue Klasse platform, arriving as the third model in that new-generation family after the iX3 and i3. BMW has raised the stakes considerably on the way in. The iX4 M60 xDrive produces 603 hp, making it 100 hp more powerful than the X4 M Competition it replaces.
Two variants define the launch lineup. The iX4 50 xDrive arrives in March 2027; the M60 xDrive follows shortly after. Both run dual-motor all-wheel drive, and both pull from the same sixth-generation BMW eDrive architecture that also underpins the 2027 X5 and iX5.
iX4 50 xDrive: The Foundation
Start with the 50 xDrive, since that’s what most buyers will actually order. It pairs an electrically excited synchronous motor (EESM) at the rear axle with an asynchronous motor (ASM) at the front. The rear EESM produces 322 hp and 321 lb-ft on its own; the front ASM adds 165 hp and 188 lb-ft. Combined output is 463 hp and 475 lb-ft. BMW estimates 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds and a 130 mph top speed.
The battery carries 112.2 kWh of usable energy and supports 800V architecture, which is where the charging story gets interesting. Peak DC charging hits 400 kW, enough to add 184 miles of range in 10 minutes. The 10-80% fill takes 21 minutes. AC charging runs at up to 15.4 kW standard. Plug & Charge Multi Contract handles authentication at compatible stations automatically, storing up to 10 separate charging contracts in the vehicle. Estimated range on a full charge is 428 miles.
The battery architecture itself is worth understanding. BMW switched from Gen5 prismatic cells to newly developed 46mm-diameter, 95mm-tall lithium-ion cylindrical cells that achieve a 20% increase in volumetric energy density. Rather than arranging them in modules, BMW integrated the cells directly into the pack using cell-to-pack construction. The pack also serves as a structural element through pack-to-open-body design: the battery housing cover replaces the conventional floor panel, saving weight and improving torsional rigidity simultaneously.
Bidirectional charging is standard on all iX4 models. Vehicle-to-Load handles portable devices; Vehicle-to-Home feeds the house during outages; Vehicle-to-Vehicle can top up another electric vehicle. BMW provides the Multifunction Charger in the frunk, compatible with standard 120V and 240V outlets via included adapters, with optional add-ons for bidirectional home use. The BMW Wallbox Plus supports up to 64 amps (15.4 kW) for home Level 2 charging.
iX4 M60 xDrive: More of Everything
The M60 xDrive uses a new Gen6 EESM variant at the rear with a more powerful inverter rated at 420A versus the standard model’s 300A, enabling higher peak and continuous output. Combined with the shared front ASM, the system produces 603 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque. BMW quotes 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and an electronically governed top speed of 149 mph.
The M60 xDrive gets an electronically controlled M Sport differential at the rear axle, which the 50 xDrive does not. That hardware, combined with the Heart of Joy control system and M Dynamic Performance Control, coordinates torque distribution in milliseconds. The driver can modulate the powertrain’s responses using steering-wheel shift paddles, adjusting regeneration and drive character without dropping out of the assisted mode. Two exclusive My Modes, M Sport and M Sport Plus, tune the drive system, steering, and chassis for track-adjacent use.
Ride hardware on the M60 xDrive includes Adaptive M Suspension as standard, with electronically controlled dampers adjustable across a range from comfortable to very sporty. Anti-roll bar links at the front axle stiffen the setup further compared with the standard iX4 chassis. The M60 xDrive also rides on 21-inch light-alloy wheels as standard, with optional specially developed 21-inch sport tires and available 22-inch M aerodynamic wheels exclusive to this variant.
Heart of Joy
Both variants carry the Heart of Joy, BMW’s in-house chassis control system that operates ten times faster than previous platforms. It manages the drive system, brakes, steering, charging, and recuperation simultaneously. The relevance here isn’t just speed of computation: the system actively reduces the number of individual corrective inputs the DSC makes in cornering situations. Fewer intervention events means smoother, more consistent cornering behavior and less noise from the brake system during everyday driving. BMW also claims recuperative braking handles nearly all deceleration in normal use, with friction brakes reserved for emergency stops and hard driving, producing what the brand calls its smoothest Soft Stop behavior to date.
The electric M Concept previewed at Monterey Car Week 2026 showed where BMW’s dynamics thinking for Neue Klasse was heading. The iX4 M60 xDrive is the first production model to put that framework in a coupe-SUV body, and the electronicM Sport differential is the hardware that either makes or breaks the claim. A vehicle with 603 hp and the weight of a 112 kWh battery needs something managing rear traction precisely at corner exit, and that’s exactly what the differential is there to do.
Driver Assistance
BMW Symbiotic Drive governs the Level 2 assistance package, with a design philosophy centered on cooperative rather than binary interaction. When active, the driver can accelerate, steer, or brake without immediately deactivating the system, allowing human and automation to share control fluidly rather than handing off in discrete steps. The optional Highway Assistant operates at up to 85 mph with attentive hands-free driving. An optional Highway and Commuting Assistant extends coverage further. BMW Maps with driver assistance, available on equipped models, combines the 3D navigation view with real-time sensor data so the driver can see the vehicle’s interpretation of its surroundings overlaid directly on the map. BMW has not announced the specific speed or road-type envelope for the Commuting Assistant variant beyond its highway extension.
Interior and Technology
BMW Panoramic iDrive fills the cabin with a 17.9-inch free-cut Central Display, BMW Panoramic Vision spanning the lower windshield width, and an optional BMW 3D Head-Up Display layered above it. The multifunction steering wheel uses shy-tech controls: driver assistance and parking functions only illuminate when available. On the M60 xDrive, a specially developed M Sport steering wheel adds a red 12 o’clock marker, colored stitching, shift paddles, and two dedicated buttons for Boost Mode and M Mode.
The optional BMW 3D Head-Up Display coordinates its content deliberately with what’s shown in Panoramic Vision, building a layered information structure rather than repeating the same data twice. Up to seven driver profiles can be stored under individual BMW IDs, with the Central Display greeting the driver by name and loading their personalized settings on each journey.
Audio starts with a 7-speaker, 205-watt system. The iX4 M60 xDrive gets a 13-speaker, 430-watt Harman Kardon system as standard, also available on the 50 xDrive. The Harman Kardon setup supports Dolby Atmos, positioning individual sounds three-dimensionally around the cabin. The full-length panoramic sunroof with climate comfort glazing is standard across the lineup.
Seat options include electrically adjustable M Sport seats for the M60 xDrive with integrated illuminated M logo and massage function, and multifunction seats with massage for the 50 xDrive. Rear seatbacks split 40/20/40. The center console carries a Wireless Charging Tray Plus that uses a magnet to hold and align a phone for inductive charging. Amazon Prime Video joins the in-car entertainment suite in the second half of 2026; AirConsole gaming and the Boosteroid cloud gaming platform, which includes Forza titles, are also available.
The iX4 can tow up to 4,400 lbs when equipped with the optional trailer hitch. Aerodynamic measures including active air flap control achieve a drag coefficient of 0.23. Nine exterior colors are available at order opening, with three Frozen options joining in March 2027 and BMW Individual colors to follow.
BMW has not announced US pricing for either iX4 variant, though the March 2027 launch date for the 50 xDrive is confirmed.
The previous X4 M Competition made 503 hp and 479 lb-ft. The iX4 M60 xDrive answers that with 100 more horsepower, a 400 kW charge port, and no combustion option on the order sheet. BMW is betting its coupe-SUV buyers are ready to make that trade, and the 428-mile range estimate suggests the brand has done the math to make it plausible. Whether the M60 xDrive’s chassis hardware delivers on the dynamics promise is what first drive reports will settle. Until then, the spec sheet alone makes it the most capable X4 BMW has ever offered.
Source: BMW. Images courtesy of BMW.
