On the double: BMW iX and i4 arrive in Irish showrooms

BMW unveiled two electric cars here this week. The new electric flagship, the iX sports activity vehicle (SAV), was rolled out as was the electric i4 coupe.

Prices for the iX start from €85,815 on-the-road and range up to €116,595. There is a choice of iX xDrive40 and iX xDrive50 versions with Sport and M Sport trim levels as well.

An iX M60, with more than 600hp on tap is due later. That should be some machine.

They claim a range of up to 613kms on a single charge (that’s the iX xDrive50 – with a combined output of 523hp). The iX xDrive40 produces 326hp and can cover, they say, up to 414kms on a single charge.

Charging to 80pc can take as few as 35 minutes in the iX xDrive50 and just 31 minutes in the xDrive40 model.

The arrival also marks the debut of the new generation BMW iDrive powered by Operating System 8 (displays, controls and software, connectivity and data processing).

The SAV is the first model based on a new, modular, scalable toolkit. The future of the BMW group will be built on it.

The brand claims the new car has the most extensive set of standard driver assistance systems seen on a BMW to date.

Luxury is not overlooked either with a smart cabin and seating for five. Nor is handling and verve, with electric all-wheel-drive providing loads of grip and traction.

Standard spec includes 21in alloys, parking assistant, four-zone air con, heated front seats, wireless phone charging etc. There are several options and specific packs.

Two-axle air suspension with Integral Active Steering are standard on iX Drive50 versions.

The new Curved Display ensemble (12.3in and control display screen of 14.9in) slot behind a glass surface and dominate the front dash.

They expect a lot of interest too for the new electric i4 – which is based on the current version of the Gran Coupé.

They say it has a range of up to 590kms and it too gets the enhanced new iDrive Operating System 8. They are making much of the i4 M50, the first purely electric performance car from BMW M GmbH, they say.

The less powerful eDrive40 comes in Sport and M Sport trim. The price range starts from €63,565 OTR.

The all-wheel-drive M50 with 544hp on tap can run up to 510kms on one charge.

The eDrive40 Sport and eDrive40 M Sport have a 340hp electric motor on the rear axle and a range of up to 590kms. You can get a boost of up to 165kms (eDrive40) and 140kms (M50) within a 10-minute charging stint at the more powerful stations.

Standard spec includes 18in alloys, Live Cockpit, reversing camera, parking assistant, auto air con, LED lights front and back and acoustic protection for pedestrians.

The M50, meanwhile, has a bespoke adaptive M suspension with specially configured springs and dampers. Standard spec for all models includes rear air suspension. Maximum charging capacity for the new batteries has been increased to 210kW.

The M50 – the first ever fully-electric BMW M model – is powered by a 190kW electric motor at the front axle and a 230kW version at the rear, which combine to produce the 544hp.

It’s powerful stuff all round from BMW as they begin a new fight for buyers in the premium car market.