With pure electrification and a comprehensive range of digital features, the BMW iX represents a new era in electric mobility. What's more, it operates at the highest level of safety. This is confirmed by experts from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) - the consumer protection institute specialising in car assessment - which awarded the BMW iX the highest possible rating - five stars - in the Euro NCAP safety assessment tests. During the test programme, which was enhanced with new parameters in 2020, the BMW Group's new technological flagship impressed, on the one hand with its outstanding occupant protection and on the other hand with its advanced support systems that are particularly effective in preventing accidents.
The BMW iX earned five stars in all categories of the Euro NCAP crash test. In the adult occupant protection assessment, the testers highlighted, among other things, the effectiveness of the new interactive airbag between the driver and passenger seats, which provides additional protection against injury in the event of a side impact. The safety of children in the rear seats of the BMW iX also scored highest in front and side impacts.
On the other hand, the integrated safety philosophy of the BMW iX ensures the highest levels of passenger protection. In addition to the perfectly coordinated restraint systems, this includes extremely robust support structures and precisely designed deformation-controlled zones that absorb the energy of a collision while preserving the integrity of the passenger compartment. The body structure of the BMW iX combines an aluminium space frame with a carbon passenger cage. Highly torsion-resistant components made of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) are used in the roof, sides and rear of the BMW iX.
"The BMW iX sets new sustainability standards, and the top five-star Euro NCAP rating underlines the vehicle's comprehensive sustainability philosophy," said Dominik Schuster, BMW's Head of Vehicle Safety. "The extremely stable body structure and ample restraint systems ensure a top level of protection for passengers. In addition, the BMW iX scores high in both the test program and in the evaluation of everyday driving with innovative support systems that significantly reduce the risk of accidents in a variety of scenarios." Among other things, the BMW iX features a forward collision warning system with brake intervention that can detect pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. In addition, the automatic emergency braking system can now also react in corners, helping to minimise the risk of a pedestrian accident when the vehicle is turning and a collision with oncoming vehicles in a left-hand bend.
If a collision is unavoidable, the risk of injury to vulnerable road users is reduced thanks to carefully designed body components and flexible structures at the front. The BMW iX also features an active bonnet, which is raised via a pyrotechnic mechanism if the data collected by sensors identifies a risk of a corresponding collision. This creates a deformation zone that prevents the pedestrian or cyclist from hitting the hard components of the engine compartment.
Other standard features on the BMW iX include attention assistant, lane departure warning and speed limit recognition, all of which were rated very positively in the Euro NCAP crash test. The Driving Assistant Professional package is offered as an option and also includes steering and lane guidance assistance. In an independent evaluation, BMW's Driving Assistant Professional in the iX3 was also rated "very good" by Euro NCAP.
