BMW iX3 M60 xDrive: 603 hp M Performance Arrives on the First Neue Klasse SUV

BMW has confirmed that the first Neue Klasse model will spawn a high-performance M variant, the iX3 M60 xDrive, and it packs a serious punch. With 603 hp on tap, the electric SUV will roll off the line at the company’s Debrecen plant in Hungary starting in spring 2027. Customers in the United States will be able to place orders from late January, giving the model a staggered launch across key markets.

The performance figures back up the M badge. Two electric motors work together to launch the iX3 M60 xDrive from a standstill to 100 km/h in a brisk 3.9 seconds, and the top speed is capped at 149 mph. A 112.2 kWh battery sits at the heart of the package and supports charging at up to 400 kW, a figure that positions it among the faster-charging electric SUVs on the market. Much of the added output comes from a reworked rear electrically excited synchronous motor, which receives a new stator and an inverter rated at 420 A instead of the 300 A unit used elsewhere. Notably, BMW quoted the same 603 hp figure for the iX4 M60 on the same day, a strong signal that a single M drivetrain will be shared across several Neue Klasse derivatives, spreading development costs across the lineup.

The chassis has been given a thorough going-over as well. Adaptive M Suspension, variable-ratio sport steering and an electronically controlled rear M Sport differential all come as standard. BMW also applied bespoke spring and damper tuning, revised front anti-roll bar links and additional front bracing to sharpen the SUV’s responses. On the software side, the Heart of Joy computer is central to the driving experience. It coordinates drive, braking, steering and recuperation, and according to BMW it operates up to ten times faster than earlier systems. In everyday driving, the SUV slows almost entirely through recuperation, reserving the friction brakes for sporty runs or emergency stops.

The options list includes M Yellow Lights inspired by BMW’s racing cars, along with a Highway Assistant that enables attentive hands-free highway driving at speeds of up to 85 mph. BMW has not yet released pricing or range figures for the iX3 M60 xDrive, leaving two important questions open ahead of the order books opening. The model represents a significant moment for the brand: it is the first Neue Klasse SUV to wear an M Performance badge, and it shows how BMW intends to roll out its next-generation electric architecture across a family of variants rather than a single flagship.