BMW has revealed its latest vehicle upgrades for Spring 2023, including updates to its electric models. Starting in March 2023, all variants of the BMW iX will feature a new and improved predictive heat management system for the high-voltage battery.
This allows for manual preheating of the battery, using waste heat generated by the electric drives, to optimize the temperature before charging. This is important as charging at maximum power is not possible if the battery is too cold.
Previously, the function was linked to active destination guidance in the BMW navigation system, but this caused issues for customers who preferred to use Apple Carplay or Android Auto. It also required the charging station to be stored in the navigation system, which could take time with newly installed stations. The upgraded system will resolve these issues, providing a better experience for BMW electric vehicle customers.
See also: BMW Will Not Offer Over-The-Air Performance Upgrades For Its Electric Vehicles
The BMW iX now comes equipped with an advanced Parking Assistant Professional feature, allowing drivers to control the Remote Control Parking and Manoeuvring Assistant through the ‘My BMW’ app on their smartphone. This new feature makes it possible to interrupt a parking procedure, step out of the vehicle, and continue the maneuver while observing the surroundings.
In our previous driving report on the iX, we outlined how the Manoeuvring Assistant works, but it’s worth noting that the test vehicle was a pre-release version from BMW. The Manoeuvring Assistant can store up to 10 different parking procedures, each up to 200 meters in length and totaling up to 600 meters. Upon arrival at the starting point, the system takes over and completes the driving task, including acceleration, braking, steering, and multiple direction and gear changes, if necessary. This means the stored maneuver in a tight underground parking lot can be repeated effortlessly.
All models of the BMW iX, including the i7 xDrive60 and iX1 xDrive30, come with a Mode 3 Charging Cable Professional, capable of charging at up to 22 kW.
