BMW iX3 M60: 603hp electric SUV with up to 468 miles of range

BMW has revealed the iX3 M60 xDrive, the fastest version of its new Neue Klasse electric SUV, with 603hp, 0 to 62mph in 3.9 seconds and a WLTP range of up to 754km, or about 468 miles. BMW announced it on 7 October 2026 through its PressClub, alongside the new iX4. Orders open at the end of January 2027, with production starting in Hungary in the spring.

The iX3 has quickly become one of the most important new EVs in Europe. It was BMW’s best-selling car in Switzerland in the third quarter, and one has driven more than 600 miles on a single charge, as we cover in our iX3 range report. The M60 is for buyers who want that efficiency with M-car pace. It is not a full BMW M model, but it is the most powerful X3 BMW has ever made.

How fast is the BMW iX3 M60?

The iX3 M60 has 603hp (450kW) and 875Nm of torque from two electric motors, according to TimesLIVE. That is 140hp and 230Nm more than the iX3 50 xDrive.

	iX3 50 xDrive	iX3 M60 xDrive
Power	463hp (345kW)	603hp (450kW)
Torque	645Nm	875Nm
0-62mph	About 4.9 seconds	3.9 seconds
Top speed	130mph	149mph
Usable battery	108.7kWh	108.7kWh
Peak charging	400kW	400kW

BMW quotes the iX3 50’s 0-62mph time as a full second slower than the M60’s. Some outlets quote the iX3 50 at 4.7 seconds; either way, the M60 is the clear step up.

The extra power comes mainly from the rear axle. BMW fitted a new sixth-generation electrically excited synchronous motor with a new stator, and a much more powerful inverter rated at 420 amps instead of 300. A longer gear ratio and higher rotor speeds lift the top speed to 240km/h, about 149mph.

What is the range and charging speed?

The iX3 M60 uses the same 108.7kWh usable battery as other iX3 models, with a WLTP range of up to 754km, which is about 468 miles. That is less than slower iX3 versions, because of the extra power and the larger wheels, but it is still an exceptional figure for a 603hp SUV.

Charging peaks at 400kW on an 800-volt system. BMW says that on a compatible 800V DC charger the M60 can add up to 340km, about 211 miles, in 10 minutes.

What will that mean on UK chargers?

Most UK ultra-rapid chargers today offer 150kW to 350kW, so you will rarely see the full 400kW. On a 150kW charger the iX3 will charge more slowly but still quickly by EV standards, because a large 800V battery can hold a high rate for longer. Our Ionity and Tesla Supercharger comparison explains which networks offer the highest-powered chargers.

What makes it an M car?

The M60 is a BMW M Performance model, a step below full M cars such as the M3, but it gets substantial chassis changes. Standard equipment includes:

• Adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers, plus model-specific spring and damper tuning.
• An electronically controlled M Sport differential at the rear axle, which helps traction and cornering, especially in slippery conditions.
• Front anti-roll bar link changes to sharpen the steering.
• Upgraded brakes and variable-ratio steering.
• 21-inch M alloy wheels, with optional 22-inch aerodynamic wheels.

Its dynamic systems are run by what BMW calls its “Heart of Joy” control unit, a central computer found on every Neue Klasse car.

How can you tell it apart?

The M60 has a model-specific roof spoiler with two aero blades, M mirror caps, a black diffuser, gloss black details and an M motif built into the front lighting. The most eye-catching option is “M Yellow Lights”, yellow daytime running lights that BMW has so far reserved for M and M Performance cars. BMWBLOG notes they are optional, so they will cost extra. There are also 25 “special request” paint finishes.

What is the interior like?

The cabin follows the regular iX3 closely, with M touches. You get BMW’s new Panoramic iDrive, which stretches information across the base of the windscreen, a 17.9-inch central touchscreen and an M Sport steering wheel with physical buttons for Boost and M modes. There is also a red marker at 12 o’clock on the wheel.

M-specific displays use unique colours, graphics and fonts, with a power meter. M apps add a “drag meter” to measure acceleration and an “M Cockpit” for custom dashboards. A 13-speaker Harman Kardon system with Dolby Atmos is standard. Options include M Sport seats with massage, lumbar and thigh support, and a 3D head-up display.

BMW’s optional Highway Assistant allows hands-free driving on motorways at up to about 85mph where the law allows it. In the UK, hands-free systems are only legal on approved roads, so check what is permitted before relying on it.

When can you order one and what will it cost?

Orders open at the end of January 2027, with production starting at BMW’s factory in Hungary in spring 2027, according to Electrek and Car and Driver. BMW has not announced UK prices.

For context, the UK iX3 range starts at £53,250 for the iX3 40, according to Autocar. The M60 will sit at the top of the range, above the iX3 50 xDrive. That puts it well above the Electric Car Grant’s price cap, so it will not qualify for the grant. As a company car, though, it would still benefit from low electric benefit-in-kind rates, which our company car tax guide explains.

Who are its rivals?

The iX3 M60 enters a small group of fast electric SUVs of a similar size. Likely rivals include the Porsche Macan Electric, the Audi SQ6 e-tron, the Polestar 4 and the Mercedes GLC with EQ Technology. Our BMW iX3, Mercedes GLC and Volvo EX60 comparison covers the core rivals.

Chinese brands are also targeting this class. Li Auto says its i6 will be priced roughly in line with the iX3, as we report in our Li Auto UK launch story.

What is the Neue Klasse?

Neue Klasse, German for “new class”, is BMW’s new generation of electric cars, and the iX3 is the first model built on it. The name recalls BMW’s Neue Klasse saloons of the 1960s, which helped define the brand. The new architecture brings:

• Sixth-generation eDrive motors, including the electrically excited synchronous motor used at the rear of the M60.
• New cylindrical battery cells in a pack that forms part of the car’s structure.
• An 800-volt electrical system for charging at up to 400kW.
• Central computers for driving dynamics, driver assistance and infotainment, with BMW’s new operating system and the Panoramic iDrive display.

The iX3 has been strikingly efficient in independent tests. In Bjorn Nyland’s steady-speed test, an iX3 50 xDrive covered 465 miles at 56mph, the best result in his database, and 337 miles at 75mph. The M60, with more power and bigger wheels, will use more energy, but it starts from a very efficient base.

How does the M60 compare with a combustion X3 M?

BMW stopped producing the previous X3 M in 2024, and fans have been waiting for a faster X3 since. The iX3 M60 is not a full M car, but BMWBLOG notes it is the most powerful X3 BMW has made. Its 3.9-second 0-62mph time puts it among the quickest SUVs of its size, and electric power means instant torque without the noise or fuel bills of a petrol performance SUV.

What it does not have is the sound and engagement of a high-revving petrol engine. BMW has added M-specific displays, a Boost button and an acceleration “drag meter” app to add theatre, and enthusiasts will want to judge on a test drive whether that is enough.

What will it cost to run?

Much less than a petrol performance SUV, if you can charge at home. A 108.7kWh battery costs roughly £7.60 to fill from empty at 7p per kWh on an off-peak tariff, or about £27 at a standard 25p rate. A petrol performance SUV covering the same distance would cost many times more in fuel.

Running costs are not just energy. Performance tyres on 21- or 22-inch wheels are expensive and wear faster on a heavy, powerful car. Insurance will be high. And from April 2028, EVs will pay 3p a mile under the eVED pay-per-mile tax, which we explain in our eVED guide.

Our view

The iX3 M60 looks like the right car at the right time. It keeps what makes the iX3 special, a huge usable battery, efficient motors and 400kW charging, and adds the performance and chassis hardware that buyers of fast BMWs expect. A 3.9-second SUV with an official range near 470 miles is a remarkable combination.

The questions are price and whether you need it. The regular iX3 50 xDrive is already very quick, and the M60 will cost noticeably more and go less far. For most UK drivers, the iX3 50 or even the iX3 40 will be the smarter buy. For those who want the fastest iX3, the M60 makes a strong case. We will update this story with UK prices when orders open.