New aerodynamic wheels of BMW iX3 increases range by 10 km

KUALA LUMPUR: The German auto giant is all set to bring its first-ever electric SUV, to be launched later this year in select markets. Christened as the BMW iX3, it will get aerodynamic wheels along with an all-electric drivetrain. According to the automaker, the novel wheels are lightweight and contribute to reduced air resistance aside from looking elegant in V-spoke aluminium finish. This is the first time that BMW is using cast aluminium wheels with plastic and aluminium as inserts.

The aerodynamic wheels are 15 per cent lighter and more efficient than the ones fitted on standard BMW X3. The company says that there is optimum airflow around the wheel arches and the new set of wheels reduce drag by 5 per cent compared to a regular X3 model. Collectively, this helps in lowering the power consumption by 2 per cent, which thereby increases the vehicle range by 10 Km, as recorded in the European WLTP test cycle.

Another highlighting aspect of the new aerodynamic wheels is that they can be painted in different colours and can be bought with a matte or polished finish. The inserts can be fitted to all versions of the base wheel, imparting endless appearances based on the pattern, polish, and sheen specified.

The BMW iX3 will come fitted with a 74 kWh battery that’s good for 440 Km of travel range on a single charge and BMW’s 5th-gen eDrive electric powertrain that will be capable of generating a max power of 290 PS and a peak torque of 400 Nm. It will be a rear-wheel-drive model only.

The model is currently in production at the company’s facility in Shenyang, China and is likely to come out by the end of this year.

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