BMW iX3 M60 Arrives With 603 HP, But the Real M Storm Is Still Brewing

BMW has pulled back the curtain on a significantly more potent version of its electric crossover lineup. The new M60 powertrain, which will appear on the iX3, iX4, and the upcoming i3 sedan, raises output to 603 horsepower and 645 pound-feet (875 Nm) of torque. That represents a jump of 140 hp over the existing 50-badged model, positioning the M60 as the most muscular iX3 variant shown to date. BMW claims a 0–62 mph (100 km/h) time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph (240 km/h), making it a full second quicker to the benchmark sprint than the iX3 50 xDrive. The iX4 M60, revealed alongside it, carries identical performance figures.

The added muscle isn’t just a software tweak. BMW reworked the rear electric motor and fitted a more powerful inverter to extract the extra output. To keep that power usable, the M60 comes standard with adaptive M suspension, M-tuned variable-ratio steering, M Sport brakes, and an electronically controlled rear differential. BMW also reinforced the front end and revised chassis tuning, aiming to make the extra thrust translate into cornering composure rather than just straight-line speed. Visual cues include optional yellow daytime running lights, 21-inch M wheels, a black rear diffuser, and an M-specific roof spoiler with twin aerodynamic blades.

Crucially, the M60 retains the same 108.7 kilowatt-hour battery pack as the 50 variant, which supports 400-kilowatt charging. Its WLTP range rating stands at 468 miles (754 km), roughly 32 miles (51 km), or about 6%, below the 50 xDrive’s 500-mile (805 km) figure. That modest trade-off suggests BMW is betting buyers in this performance tier will prioritize output over maximum range. The i3 M60 sedan, confirmed and previewed by BMW, should be even quicker thanks to a lower and lighter body; BMW indicates it will be around two-tenths faster to 62 mph, pointing to approximately 3.7 seconds.

What’s notable is that the M60, despite its output, is not the ceiling of BMW’s electric performance ambitions. The company considers these genuine M models, yet more extreme four-motor M cars remain in development, engineered with a rear-biased character. The first full-fat Neue Klasse-based M car will be the electric M3, which has already begun shedding camouflage ahead of a planned reveal in 2027. An iX3 M is also in the pipeline, and while spy shots of an iX4 M haven’t surfaced, BMW’s trajectory suggests it remains a possibility. The M60, then, is less a finale and more an opening act for BMW’s electric performance era.

For buyers, the M60 represents a middle path: substantially quicker than the 50 xDrive, yet not the most hardcore offering BMW intends to sell. With the i3 sedan promising a sharper experience and a full M onslaught still to come, the lineup’s performance hierarchy is clearly being staged deliberately. BMW is signaling that its electric future won’t be short on horsepower, and that the M badge will carry the same weight in the battery era as it has in the combustion one.