Powertrain families
Gen5 BMW eDrive
iX (I20) — Sports Activity Vehicle
2021–present
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- I20
- Production
- 2021–present
- Body style
- 5-door SAV
- Platform
- BMW i · electric / PHEV
Body variants
iX → I20 → Sports Activity Vehicle
iX I20: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected sports activity vehicle fits into the family.
I20 iX was conceived as a dedicated battery-electric technology flagship rather than an electric derivative of X5. Its aluminium-intensive structure, carbon-fibre-reinforced elements, frameless doors and integrated high-voltage architecture form one large five-door SAV body produced at Dingolfing.
The original range launched with dual-motor xDrive40 and xDrive50, followed by M60. A 2025 update replaced them in many markets with xDrive45, xDrive60 and M70 while revising power electronics, battery use, efficiency, suspension tuning and exterior details.
Old and new badges cannot be joined by position alone: xDrive50 and xDrive60, or M60 and M70, have different outputs and range certification. Published charging and range figures require production date, market, wheel and test-cycle context.
2021–presentgeneration lifecycle
1body branches
1engine/drive families
6range designations
I20factory code
BMW i · electric / PHEVarchitecture
Sports Activity Vehicle: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,953 mm
Width1,967 mm
Height1,696 mm
Wheelbase3,000 mm
Luggage500–1,750 L
Fuel tank—
Seats5
Doors5-door SAV
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Activity Vehicle | I20 | 2021–present | 5-door SAV / 5 | 4,953 mm | 500–1,750 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented sports activity vehicle applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iX xDrive40 | 2021–2025 | Gen5 eDrive · dual motor · 71.0 kWh usable | 326 hp | single-speed | AWD | Global range | The first-ever BMW iX |
| iX xDrive50 | 2021–2025 | Gen5 eDrive · dual motor · 105.2 kWh usable | 523 hp | single-speed | AWD | Global range | The first-ever BMW iX |
| iX M60 | 2022–2025 | Gen5 eDrive · dual motor · 106.3 kWh usable | 619 hp / 610 hp North America | single-speed | AWD | Global range | The BMW iX M60 and iX xDrive40 |
| iX xDrive45 | 2025–present | Gen5 eDrive · dual motor · 94.8 kWh usable | 408 hp / 402 hp North America | single-speed | AWD | Global range | The new BMW iX |
| iX xDrive60 | 2025–present | Gen5 eDrive · dual motor · 109.1 kWh usable | 544 hp / 536 hp North America | single-speed | AWD | Global range | The new BMW iX |
| iX M70 xDrive | 2025–present | Gen5 eDrive · dual motor · 108.9 kWh usable | 659 hp / 650 hp North America | single-speed | AWD | Global range | The new BMW iX |
Factory designations
iX xDrive40 · iX xDrive45 · iX xDrive50 · iX xDrive60 · iX M60 · iX M70
Electric drive
Traction motors, battery and charging hardware are derivative-, market- and production-date-specific.
High-voltage battery
Usable capacity, cell chemistry and charge rate can change during the lifecycle and must follow factory specifications.
Drive variants
Single- and dual-motor layouts, system output and range are recorded as separate factory derivatives.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: BMW i · electric / PHEV. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- I20: 4,953 mm × 1,967 mm × 1,696 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
Production design previewed
BMW revealed the dedicated electric SAV before final technical publication.
Launch and deliveries
xDrive40 and xDrive50 specifications preceded the November road launch.
iX M60
The first M Performance derivative added a higher-output dual-motor setup.
xDrive45/60 and M70 update
New power electronics, efficiency work and model names reshaped the complete range.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Sports Activity Vehicle
I20iX I20 is a distinct I20 body branch. A five-door high-riding body combining a flexible cargo area with the road-focused dynamics of BMW’s X family. Engines/drive: Gen5 BMW eDrive.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- I20 — Sports Activity Vehicle
- Range designations
- iX xDrive40, iX xDrive45, iX xDrive50, iX xDrive60, iX M60, iX M70
- Powertrain families
- Gen5 BMW eDrive
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW iXWikipedia contributors
Secondary architecture, model and update overview.
- 02The first ever BMW iXBMW Group PressClub
Factory launch, body concept, xDrive40/xDrive50 and November 2021 schedule.
- 03The new BMW iXBMW Group PressClub
Factory 2025 update and xDrive45/xDrive60/M70 data in US-market scope.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- Pre-2025 and post-2025 derivatives need separate battery, output, range and chassis rows.
- M70 is M Performance, not a standalone full BMW M body generation.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Damian B Oh, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026