BMW's iX3 M60 xDrive: 603 hp and the Neue Klasse recipe for performance

BMW has pulled the wraps off a high-output M Performance take on its first Neue Klasse model, confirming that the iX3 M60 xDrive will roll off the line at the company’s Debrecen plant in Hungary beginning in spring 2027. Buyers in the United States will be able to place orders a few months ahead of that, with the order books opening in late January.

The headline figure is 603 hp, delivered through a dual-motor setup that sends the SUV to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds before topping out at 149 mph. Energy comes from a 112.2 kWh pack capable of accepting charging speeds as high as 400 kW. Much of the added muscle traces back to a reworked rear electrically excited synchronous motor, which swaps in a new stator and an inverter rated at 420 A instead of 300 A. Tellingly, BMW quoted the exact same 603 hp output for the iX4 M60 on the very same day — a strong signal that the company intends to spread a single M drivetrain across multiple Neue Klasse derivatives and amortise development costs across the lineup.

The chassis has been given a matching overhaul. Adaptive M Suspension, variable-ratio sport steering and an electronically controlled rear M Sport differential all come as standard, joined by model-specific spring and damper tuning, revised front anti-roll bar links and additional front bracing to sharpen body control.

Software carries a substantial share of the workload. BMW’s Heart of Joy computer orchestrates drive, braking, steering and recuperation, and the automaker claims it operates up to ten times faster than the systems it replaces. In everyday driving, the SUV sheds speed almost entirely through recuperation, reserving the friction brakes for spirited runs or emergency stops. Optional extras include M Yellow Lights inspired by BMW’s racing machinery, along with a Highway Assistant that enables attentive hands-free highway driving at speeds of up to 85 mph.

What BMW has not done is attach a price or an official range figure to the iX3 M60 xDrive, leaving those key details for a later announcement. The model matters beyond its own spec sheet: it serves as the clearest demonstration yet of how BMW plans to scale its Neue Klasse architecture, using a shared high-performance electric drivetrain and common software stack to field a family of emotionally charged variants without rebuilding the engineering case for each one.