BMW iNext Electric SUV Enters Hottest Development Phase In South African Desert

BMW entered the hot-weather phase of the iNext’s development, the all-electric SUV that aims to become the brand’s new technological flagship.

The intensive development programme has now traded the freezing temperatures at the polar circle with the extreme heat and solar radiation of the Kalahari in Southern Africa. In this punishing environment with the rough off-road terrain, BMW will ensure that the electric iNext will offer the necessary durability and reliability in all areas.

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BMW’s engineering team took the pre-series test cars on test drives through the desert and Savanna regions of South Africa, with the surfaces alternating between sand dunes, gravel and various off-road paths to see how the car’s components, suspension and four-wheel drive system respond under extreme conditions.

The upcoming BMW iNext is also being subjected to extreme heat tests, where the car is repeatedly left exposed to the heat of the sun for hours and later cooled down. This way the engineers test things like the temperature stability of the materials in the interior, in order to ensure that there will be no annoying creaks even during sudden and intense temperature fluctuations, as well as the electrical systems and their operability.

The Kalahari also offers the ideal environment for testing the ability of the various flaps, doors and bonnets to keep dust outside from the cabin and other areas. The engineers drive the prototypes over thousands of miles on unpaved roads and through dunes and other sandy terrains to ensure that the BMW iNext doesn’t let any dust get inside.

Production of the BMW iNext – which is reportedly going to adopt the iX5 nameplate – will begin in 2021 at the Dingolfing factory. The final production model will feature BMW’s fifth-generation eDrive technology, promising a driving range of up to 373 miles (600 km) and a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in around 4 seconds in its range-topping trim.

In addition, the 2021 BMW iNext will feature a range of very advanced driver assistance technologies, including the ability for highly automated driving.