The inaugural BMW iX4 has been spied on public roads for the first time ahead of its official unveiling later this year, and an expected arrival in Australia in 2027.
A rival to the top-selling Tesla Model Y and Porsche Macan Electric, the all-new fastback luxury electric SUV will be the second model to be based on BMW’s make-or-break Neue Klasse electric vehicle (EV) platform, which the premium German automaker spent a claimed €10 billion (A$17bn) to develop, following the debut of the new iX3 at the Munich motor show in September 2025.
While the iX3 is confirmed for Australian showrooms from mid-2026, the iX4 has not yet been officially locked in for BMW’s local lineup, though it is expected to land here in 2027 following its global reveal later this year.
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Both mid-size electric SUV models form part of a major product onslaught from BMW, which has promised to launch 40 new or updated models globally by 2028.
The iX4 is expected to bring across the new technologies showcased on the iX3, while sharing its brand-new 800-volt electrical architecture. However, as these images show, it adopts a much sportier, more heavily sloped roofline and rear-end design than both the iX3 and the existing X4.
These spy images show the iX4 wearing the same nose, flush-fit door handles and side skirts as the iX3, but paired with a more curvaceous roofline and, intriguingly, a covered C-pillar area behind the rear doors.
This mirrors the relationship between the X3 and X4 medium SUVs currently sold in Australia, with the X4’s truncated rear-end reducing luggage capacity from the 550-1650 litres in the X3 to 525-1430L.
The iX4 is therefore expected to sacrifice some of the new iX3’s cargo space, which is 520-1750L, and is also tipped to command a higher price than the iX3, which is anticipated to start at around $120,000 in Australia at launch.
Inside, the iX4 is again expected to closely mirror the iX3, including BMW’s new Panoramic iDrive infotainment system, which includes a 43.3-inch display spanning the base of the windscreen, as well as a head-up display and a 17.9-inch infotainment touchscreen running the BMW Operating System X.
The iX4 is also expected to use the same electric powertrains as the iX3, which has been confirmed in a single model grade for its Australian launch – the iX3 50 xDrive – featuring a dual-motor electric powertrain producing 345kW of power and 645Nm of torque, paired with a 108kWh battery and up to 805km range.
BMW has also confirmed it will introduce a more affordable, rear-wheel drive entry-level iX3 variant in Australia in 2027, while a sportier M60 flagship may follow later in the lifecycle of the iX3 – and subsequently the iX4.
The more compact iX1 small electric SUV was also spied testing late last year and will follow the same Neue Klasse design direction as the iX3 and iX4. It is expected to be unveiled in 2027, with Australian availability likely in 2028 or 2029.
The current iX1 was BMW Australia’s top-selling EV in 2025, finishing just outside the top 10 most popular EVs overall, while BMW was the fifth-best selling EV brand after Tesla, BYD, Kia and MG.
BMW is also preparing to reveal the first i3 sedan to be sold alongside the popular mid-size i4 electric fastback, and has confirmed development of both electric and combustion-powered versions of its iconic M3 sports sedan, built on two separate platforms.
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