‘Comfort Felt on the Road’... The New BMW iX3 Redefines the Standard for Electric Vehicles [FN Mobility]

[Financial News, Incheon = Reporter Kim Hak-jae]'Unshakable comfort'
This is not a mattress ad slogan. It is how The New BMW iX3, the premium battery electric vehicle BMW is launching in the Korean market, felt when driven firsthand.
The reason BMW said it would "change the standard for electric vehicles" became clear as soon as I took the wheel of The New iX3. It is not just a fast EV. Its stable feel, even at high speeds, and the way the body remains composed, showed why it is a BMW.
Among the four high-performance supercomputers, or Superbrain, installed in The New iX3, the BMW Heart of Joy, which handles driving dynamics control, seemed to further enhance the pleasure of driving.
At the test drive of The New iX3 held on the 17th at the BMW Driving Center in Jung-gu, Incheon, the vehicle's stability was first confirmed on the circuit.
Acceleration, hard braking and slalom driving around cones made it easy to feel the vehicle's stable performance.
During the slalom run, with a cup of washer fluid placed on the roof, the fluid did not spill even as the vehicle moved in a zigzag pattern.
Even after repeatedly turning the steering wheel, the handling felt smooth. When I looked up at the sunroof after sensing the stability from the driver's seat, the washer fluid was still exactly where it had been.
On the circuit, I pressed the accelerator hard and quickly pushed the vehicle past 100 km/h, but it accelerated in a stable manner, creating a reassuring feeling even at speed.
BMW said this was due to the function of the BMW Heart of Joy, one of the four high-performance Superbrain units installed in The New iX3. The BMW Heart of Joy, which is responsible for driving dynamics control, brings out BMW's signature dynamic character.
This high-performance computer integrates the car's core motions — accelerating, turning and stopping — into a single system, from torque control to steering, braking and body stabilization. Data processing speed has improved tenfold from before. As a result, it can detect even the slightest changes in road conditions and driving situations and control the body in 0.001-second increments, delivering remarkable responsiveness.

During the test drive on Yeongjong Island, the performance of Symbiotic Drive, combined with advanced driver assistance systems, became apparent.
While driving about 40 kilometers around Yeongjong Island, the driver assistance features further enhanced the vehicle's sense of stability.
When I deliberately straddled a lane line while driving, the steering wheel naturally adjusted the car's position in the lane, as if someone beside me were gently guiding it.
BMW said The New iX3 handles about 98% of braking in everyday driving smoothly through precise regenerative braking alone, without using friction brakes.
It also completely offset the characteristic lurch and jolt that occur when the vehicle finishes decelerating and comes to a full stop.

Meanwhile, The New iX3 will be equipped with cylindrical batteries made by Chinese battery cell maker EVE Energy.
BMW said, "We apply the highest quality standards throughout battery cell production," adding, "We secure consistent quality through extensive quality control and verification processes based on strict standards from the cell manufacturing stage."
On the use of Chinese batteries instead of Korean-made ones, BMW said, "The BMW Group works with a range of global battery suppliers and selects partners according to strict standards," adding, "Based on the quality standards of the Gen6 high-voltage battery system developed by BMW, we apply thorough management and verification processes throughout battery cell production to ensure consistently top-level quality."
The New iX3 is also seen as a major technological leap in driving range, charging efficiency and charging speed.
Charging speed has been improved by 30%, and driving range has increased by 30%. The New iX3 achieves a maximum range of 611 km on a single charge, the best in its class. In actual test drives conducted in Europe, it recorded an impressive 1,007.7 km on a single charge.
Using an ultra-fast charger, just 10 minutes of charging can provide about 250 km of driving range, and charging from 10% to 80% takes only about 21 minutes. As for the electric powertrain, it can accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds.
The New iX3 will be launched on July 6 in three trims: The New BMW iX3 50 xDrive SE, The New BMW iX3 50 xDrive M Sport and The New BMW iX3 50 xDrive M Sport Pro.
In Korea, prices are set at 79.9 million won for The New BMW iX3 50 xDrive SE, 86.9 million to 87.1 million won for The New BMW iX3 50 xDrive M Sport, and 91.9 million won for The New BMW iX3 50 xDrive M Sport Pro.
hjkim01@fnnews.com Kim Hak-jae Reporter