The German automaker has announced several model updates for spring 2026. Among other changes, the two all-electric models, iX1 and iX2, will receive new SiC inverters that reduce consumption and enable longer ranges. Additionally, the new iX3 now offers a 22-kW charger.

Shortly after the BMW brand Mini revealed minor efficiency-enhancing updates for its electric Countryman, BMW followed suit with its sibling models, the iX1 and iX2, which share the same drivetrain technology as the Countryman. For the new model year, both compact SUVs, built in Regensburg, will feature silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor components in their power electronics.

SiC semiconductors are more efficient than pure-silicon chips and offer higher efficiency ratings. When integrated into the inverter of an electric vehicle, less energy is lost as heat during the conversion of direct current from the battery into alternating current for the electric motors. This means a larger proportion of the vehicle’s stored energy can be used for propulsion.

Adding 40 km of range

BMW states in its announcement that the SiC inverters are expected “to increase the vehicles’ range by a good 40 kilometers.” However, unlike Mini, BMW does not appear to have conducted a new WLTP consumption test for the iX1 and iX2, as the ‘old’ WLTP ranges are still quoted.

For the iX1 eDrive20 with its 150 kW front-wheel-drive, the range remains up to 461 kilometers, while the 225 kW all-wheel-drive iX1 xDrive30 is listed at up to 430 kilometers. For the iX2, the front-wheel-drive version offers up to 474 kilometers, and the all-wheel-drive version up to 449 kilometers.

There is, however, a difference in the scope of the updates: while BMW only mentions the new SiC inverters, Mini has also introduced friction-optimised front wheel bearings, minor aerodynamic improvements, and battery enhancements for the Countryman.

For example, the usable energy content of the battery in the Countryman E and SE ALL4 has increased from 64.6 to 65.2 kWh net, while the gross capacity remains at 66.5 kWh. BMW has not announced any such battery changes for its models.

Already minor updates for iX3

Ahead of the official market launch on 7 March, there are already some minor updates, one could also call them adjustments, to the new iX3’s offerings. For the BMW based on the Neue Klasse platform, the optional equipment AC Charging Professional will soon be available, enabling alternating current charging at up to 22 kW.

This allows the iX3 50 xDrive’s 108 kWh battery to be fully charged in just over five hours. Additionally, the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function will be introduced, turning the vehicle into a mobile power bank capable of supplying external electrical devices with up to 3.7 kW of power.

Some further updates are purely aesthetic: “There will be three new exterior colour options for the BMW iX3 from spring 2026, and a new option available in combination with the BMW Contemporary Digital White Bicolour interior is the BMW Individual steering wheel in Digital White,” BMW states.