X3/X4 BMW iX3

[Giannis]

So, this is BMW now?

*running back to my cave*

 

[klugscheisser87]

I see it ridiculous to differentate electric cars or to create subbrands. Tesla showed that an electric car can look just normal without all that blue trashy stuff or making it look like plastic origami on wheels.

That KIA grille is a very dangerous game they play, it started with the dissapearing hofmeister knick and broken character lines.
Imagine, with every generation they will feel free to mess on that more and more.

 

[Matski]

That KIA grille is a very dangerous game they play, it started with the dissapearing hofmeister knick and broken character lines.
Imagine, with every generation they will feel free to mess on that more and more.

Actually, it started with no kidney grille, no real character lines, and no hoffmeister kink. The styling of a current BMW is immeasurably different to that of 3/15 and it's simply not possible to expect every new car to be a culmination of every design trait that came before it... or put simply, design evolution is inevitable. I'm not saying you have to like the aesthetic of it, but to resist evolution is futile.

I'm not exactly a fan if the iX3 Concept myself FWIW.

 

[klugscheisser87]

I understand you and I see it the same way. Just BMW had these attributes for over 50 years, and they become like the most recognizable details in the car industry. Even Bangle was treating it with respect, so I understand his criticism over their new design language. It's uninspiring and castrated.

 

[SCOTT27]

isn't the new grille looks like a pair of sun glasses?

 

[Der Hofmeister]

I see it ridiculous to differentate electric cars or to create subbrands. Tesla showed that an electric car can look just normal without all that blue trashy stuff or making it look like plastic origami on wheels.

That KIA grille is a very dangerous game they play, it started with the dissapearing hofmeister knick and broken character lines.
Imagine, with every generation they will feel free to mess on that more and more.

It's not that they mess with the design. For the most radical fans, it may be that way, but for sure BMW felt it is time to evolve some of the classic details. I don't know how many die-hard fans are also customers, but I am pretty sure these design changes, even though they may seem out of the blue, are solidly researched and approved with the clientele. The Hofmeister kink is not dissapearing, they are just evolving its design. And the grille is still BMW, although connected. No one has killed the kidneys, but it takes time for some to digest the changes. This iX3 is just a modern interpretation of a minimal design, which is to come about for every BMW i model that will be released in the following years. It is hardly intended to become a classic, this is not its mission. That is why it needs to be a bit different, while also being recognizable as a BMW. Which it is.

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

Btw, I'm impressed by the all-in-one e-motor + gearbox unit.

What's so impressive about it? It's the usual way an elmotor is coupled to a reductor. This is how it functions for more than 100 years. I think that the advantages of BMW in the field of electrical drive are overrated. There is nothing so much special, that would give the final customer a better experience over the models from the competition.

 

[Serpens]

The bumper is worlds better than the standard X3 I must say, but the grille was a mistake in my opinion. Oh well- overall this is an excellent package. Can't wait to see how this stacks up with the competition when they arrive next year. Such great times to be a consumer.

 

[Deleted member 25]

What happened to the old good way of putting photos in the topic ?

Not bad not bad at all.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

It looks good, though I am still not digging that grille.

 

[Deleted member 25]

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[EnI]

What's so impressive about it? It's the usual way an elmotor is coupled to a reductor. This is how it functions for more than 100 years. I think that the advantages of BMW in the field of electrical drive are overrated. There is nothing so much special, that would give the final customer a better experience over the models from the competition.

Sure e-motor tech is known & hardly revolutionary. So is the basic architecture of e-motor (with reductor).

What's interesting in BMW case is the modular / scaleable & very compact & integral nature of the whole package which can lead to lower production costs and potentially to lower prices for customers ... since it fits into all BMW models (on both RWD and FWD platforms), and can feature e-motors & ECUs of different sizes & power outputs - while keeping the whole unit extremely compact & consequently lighter. So, the scalable, modular design of the package is somehow very advanced.

When it comes to the engine itself ... Completely eliminating rare earths in a magnet-based e-motor sounds very revolutionary to me (I guess they are not using electromagnetic e-motor combined) - especially combined with high torque efficiency & low energy consumption (just a magical ECU or anything more revolutionary???). I'm hearing A LOT of R&D money has been invested in this new e-motor. After all - BMW is called a MOTOR company for a reason, I guess.

 

[Centurion]

since it fits into all BMW models (on both RWD and FWD platforms), and can feature e-motors & ECUs of different sizes & power outputs - while keeping the whole unit extremely compact & consequently lighter.

Isn't this already true for Tesla and will be for other manufacturers?

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

Sure e-motor tech is known & hardly revolutionary. So is the basic architecture of e-motor (with reductor).

What's interesting in BMW case is the modular / scaleable & very compact & integral nature of the whole package which can lead to lower production costs and potentially to lower prices for customers ... since it fits into all BMW models (on both RWD and FWD platforms), and can feature e-motors & ECUs of different sizes & power outputs - while keeping the whole unit extremely compact & consequently lighter. So, the scalable, modular design of the package is somehow very advanced.

When it comes to the engine itself ... Completely eliminating rare earths in a magnet-based e-motor sounds very revolutionary to me (I guess they are not using electromagnetic e-motor combined) - especially combined with high torque efficiency & low energy consumption (just a magical ECU or anything more revolutionary???). I'm hearing A LOT of R&D money has been invested in this new e-motor. After all - BMW is called a MOTOR company for a reason, I guess.

Rare earths have never been an issue in elmotors but only in batteries. BMW made it scalable because the technology allows and it is the same for all the other producers, just BMW announced it like being something special. But, but, but there is something 1000 times more important and it is the news from today that for the production of elautos in China no Joint-Venture is needed anymore. This will give a huge advantage for TESLA, because they haven't engaged with a Chinese company yet. They can produce cars there and not only keep all the profit for themselves but also produce cars there for the whole region. Too late for the Germans. They are doomed with their long-term Join-Venture contracts

 

[EnI]

Rare earths have never been an issue in elmotors but only in batteries.

Absolutely not true!

Quite a lot of exotic rare earths are used in the magnets for permanent magnet e-motors. Lately carmakers has been successful at reducing the rare earths usage - by eg. reducing the amount of them used, or replacing them with less exotic (and more widely available) rare earths, or introducing hybrid e-motors (using less magnets). The alternative was - just like used in Tesla S & X - an AC induction e-motor, using electro magnets (copper coils charged with electric current) instead of permanent magnets ... but such motor has it's disadvantages and is more suitable for cars with eg. more battery power.

BMW made it scalable because the technology allows and it is the same for all the other producers, just BMW announced it like being something special.

It's not that nobody will ever follow & catch up with BMW ... But currently BMW has some upper hand.

But, but, but there is something 1000 times more important and it is the news from today that for the production of elautos in China no Joint0Venture is needed anymore. This will give a huge advantage for TESLA, because they haven't engaged with a Chinese company yet. They can produce cars there and not only keep all the profit for themselves but also produce cars there for the whole region. Too late for the Germans. They are doomed with they're long-term Join-Venture contracts.

And where will the money come from? With all the expansion planned at Tesla ... Model Y introduction, new Roadster, semi-truck production, Nevada Gigafactory expansion to full capacity ... Another Gigafactory being built in Europe & potentially in China as well. And then there will be another assembly plant - this time in China? OK, that's A LOT of capital needed. Where it will come from? To a company that has been able to burn money for 15 years, generating negative cashflow all the time, and generating loss all the time. Not to mention being in huge debt (also due to SolarCity acquisition).

That said ... VAG, BMW, Daimler etc can reach a deal & buyout the Chinese JV partners and become sole owners of their Chinese facilities. Some talks have already begun. Right price, and they are out.

Be sure automotive giants will do all the necessary to not allow new comers (like Tesla) to take any advantages from the situation.

And it was the pressure of the established carmakers - already present in China via JVs - that made Chinese government to change its mind when it comes to the foreign automotive investment.

 

[Matski]

But, but, but there is something 1000 times more important and it is the news from today that for the production of elautos in China no Joint-Venture is needed anymore. This will give a huge advantage for TESLA, because they haven't engaged with a Chinese company yet. They can produce cars there and not only keep all the profit for themselves but also produce cars there for the whole region. Too late for the Germans. They are doomed with their long-term Join-Venture contracts

Tesla didn't need a JV to produces their EV's in NV... but that doesn't mean they've made a success out of doing it! Seriously though, I don't know how all the JV's work, but if the established western giants have contracts with the established domestic giants, I would imagine getting a foothold might not be that easy.

 

[Sunny]

I see it ridiculous to differentate electric cars or to create subbrands. Tesla showed that an electric car can look just normal without all that blue trashy stuff or making it look like plastic origami on wheels.

This. Don't know why Germans think electric cars need blue mascara? Does the blue paint increase range?

Either way, it looks very pedestrian. Both the Jag and the Audi e thinghys look more special.

BTW, does this have a frunk?

 

[Matski]

Either way, it looks very pedestrian. Both the Jag and the Audi e thinghys look more special.

Half the people "Why can't it look like a normal car"

The other half "Doesn't look special enough"

 

[EnI]

Half the people "Why can't it look like a normal car"

The other half "Doesn't look special enough"

Bitter f*ckers everywhere ... bitching all the time .

 

[SF Dede]

Bitter f*ckers everywhere ... bitching all the time .

Respectfully, there’s a huge difference between having an opinion, being committed to it, and stating it and being bitter and bitching constantly. But you already know that.

Personally I’m not a fan of the grille, nor the blue accents. I don’t think my opinion will change. But I understand some like one or both, and their entitled to their opinions.

Cheers!