Fully electric BMW iX crossover and i4 Gran Coupe now on sale.
Flagship BMW M plug-in hybrid crossover and fully electric BMW i7 sedan on the way.
Refreshed X3 and X4 crossovers.
BMW sells a wide variety of cars and utility vehicles, focused on performance and handling, but also on luxury and design. It also renewed its range of electric vehicles, with more to come in the near future.
As is the case with other German luxury brands, BMW has big plans for electrification and emissions reductions. The company caresses a lofty ambition to sell more than seven million fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2030. Here’s what to expect from the BMW brand in 2022.
Let’s start with the BMW i sub-brand. The BMW iX is the company’s first fully electric crossover to hit the North American market, now available with three different powertrains and standard all-wheel drive. The Canada-only xDrive40 serves up 322 horsepower and an estimated driving range of 211 miles or 340 km, while the xDrive50 gets 516 hp and a driving range estimated at 324 miles in the U.S., up to 521 km in Canada. The newly introduced iX M60 boasts 610 horses, a 0-to-60 mph dash in 3.6 seconds and an estimated range of 280 miles or 450 km.
The BMW i4 has also arrived, a compact liftback Gran Coupe available in two flavours. The eDrive40 serves up 335 horsepower and an estimated range of up to 301 miles or 484 km, while the i4 M50 xDrive offers 536 horsepower, a 0-to-60 mph sprint in 3.7 seconds and a range of up to 270 miles or 435 km. The i4 eDrive40 is rear-wheel drive only, while the M50 is AWD.
As for the BMW i3, it was pulled from the North American market in 2021, and production is scheduled to end in July 2022.
The BMW Concept XM was unveiled in November 2021, a preview of a production crossover that is touted as being the most powerful vehicle series-produced by BMW M, as a celebration of its 50th anniversary. The Concept XM also presents the brand’s future design direction, and it will be the M division’s first standalone vehicle since the BMW M1. Its plug-in hybrid system will consist of a V8 engine and an electric motor to develop a combined 740 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque, with an EV-only driving range estimated at 30 miles or 50 km. Expect this flagship M vehicle to carry a six-figure price tag.
BMW has also teased another fully electric vehicle. The BMW i7 has been announced as a range-topping EV on the passenger-car side of things. It should eventually be offered in eDrive50 and M60 configurations with standard AWD and at least 500 horsepower.
On the combustion-engine side of things, the BMW 2 Series is now offered in two body styles for 2022, as the convertible is on hiatus for now. The 2 Series coupe has been redesigned, keeping its rear-wheel drivetrain and is available in 230i configuration with a 255-hp turbo 2.0L four, or as the M240i xDrive with a 382-hp turbo 3.0L six. Meanwhile, the 2 Series Gran Coupe is built on a front-drive platform and is available in 228i and 228i xDrive trims with a 228-hp turbo 2.0L four, as well as the M235i xDrive with a 301-hp turbo 2.0L engine. The hot-rod BMW M2 is no longer available, but will likely return soon as the new-generation coupe has arrived.
The BMW 3 Series lineup continues into 2022 with minor changes. It includes 330i/330i xDrive (turbo 2.0L four, 255 hp), the M340i/M340i xDrive (turbo 3.0L six, 382 hp) and the 330e and 330e xDrive (plug-in hybrid turbo 2.0L four, 288 combined hp, driving range of 22 miles in the U.S. and 37 km in Canada). There’s also the BMW M3 and its twin-turbo 3.0L inline-six developing 473 hp—or 503 hp in the M3 Competition. A fall 2021 software update is said to have added an “improved sound experience” in the M3, citing sound refinements when starting the engine and clearer audio confirmation of gear changes. Yup.
An all-new generation of the BMW 4 Series hit the streets in 2021, so there are virtually no changes for 2022. It’s available once again in coupe, convertible and four-door Gran Coupe body styles, although the latter has yet to be confirmed for the Canadian market. The 4 Series is offered in 430i/430i xDrive (turbo 2.0L four, 255 hp) and M440i/M440i xDrive (turbo 3.0L six, 382 hp) trim levels, while the also-new BMW M4 packs a twin-turbo 3.0L six with 473 horsepower—or 503 ponies in the M4 Competition. The BMW M4 also gets the same software engine sound enhancements as the M3.
After a mid-cycle refresh for 2021, the BMW 5 Series receives only minor changes for 2022. The 530e/530e xDrive plug-in hybrids get a combined output of 288 horsepower and a driving range of up to 21 miles (EPA) or 34 km (NRCan). The lineup also consists of the 530i/530i xDrive (turbo 2.0L four, 248 hp), the 540i/540i xDrive (turbo 3.0L six, 335 hp), the M550i xDrive (twin-turbo 4.4L V8, 523 hp) as well as the mighty BMW M5 (twin-turbo 4.4L V8, 600 hp) and M5 Competition (617 hp) sedans. New for 2022 is the limited-run M5 CS which boasts 627 hp and 553 pound-feet of torque, a curb weight reduced by 230 pounds compared to the M5 Competition, and a 0-60 mph blast in 2.9 seconds.
The BMW 7 Series returns with little changes this year. A 12-unit run of the Limited Edition M760i xDrive will be released in the United States this year, celebrating the end of BMW V12 engines whose production will end in June 2022. The full-size sedan is offered in 740i/740i xDrive (turbo 3.0L six, 335 hp), 750i xDrive (twin-turbo 4.4L V8, 523 hp), 745e xDrive (PHEV with turbo 3.0L six, 389 combined hp), M760i xDrive (twin-turbo 6.6L V12, 601 hp) and Alpina B7 xDrive (twin-turbo 4.4L V8, 600 hp) variants in the United States, while Canada gets a mix of regular- and long-wheelbase body styles with a lineup comprised of the 745Le, 750i, 750Li, M760Li and Alpina B7, all with xDrive.
The BMW 8 Series rolled into 2022 with little changes, such as the M Sport package now fitted as standard in the entry-level 840i trims. However, the 2023 model-year car has already been announced with an updated exterior design, an infotainment system display that grows from 10.25 to 12.3 inches as well as five new paint colors and two 20-inch wheel designs. The 840i/840i xDrive (turbo 3.0L six, 335 hp) coupe, convertible and four-door Gran Coupe are available in the U.S., but not in Canada, while the M850i xDrive (twin-turbo 4.4L V8, 523 hp) in all three body styles are offered in both countries. The Alpina B8 xDrive Gran Coupe (twin-turbo 4.4L V8, 612 hp) was recently introduced as well. Meanwhile, the BMW M8 is now only available in Competition trim (617 hp) across all three body styles. A limited-run BMW 8 X JEFF KOONS edition based on the M850i xDrive Gran Coupe will be unveiled on February 17th, 2022, and will be available in the United States.
The BMW Z4 roadster gets minor changes for 2022. It continues to be offered in sDrive30i (turbo 2.0L four, 255 hp) and M40i (turbo 3.0L six, 382 hp) trim levels.
The BMW X1 is once again available in two trim levels in the U.S., the front-wheel-drive sDrive28i and the AWD xDrive28i, both equipped with a turbo 2.0L four developing 228 horsepower. Meanwhile, Canada only offers the AWD variant.
The sportier BMW X2 coupe-like crossover is offered in sDrive28i and xDrive28i trims with a 228-hp, turbo 2.0L four, in addition to the X2 M35i which benefits from 301 horsepower coming from a similar-displacement engine. The Canadian market skips the FWD sDrive28i though. No changes have been announced for the 2022 model year, and BMW has already introduced the 2023 X2 Edition GoldPlay, whose production will start in March 2022. It will feature the M Sport package as standard, in addition to exclusive San Remo Green paint with Galvanic Gold accenting as well as interior Galvanic Gold and Giallo Oro trim.
Meanwhile, the BMW X3 received a mid-cycle refresh for 2022, including revised exterior styling and interior styling, new seat upholstery and colours, ambient lighting, new alloy wheel designs and paint colours as well as an M Sport package for the sDrive30i and xDrive30i variants. The X3 is still offered in sDrive30i and xDrive30i (turbo 2.0L four, 248 hp), Canada-only xDrive30e (PHEV with turbo 2.0L four, 288 combined hp), M40i (turbo 3.0L six now with 48V mild hybrid tech, 382 hp), U.S.-only X3 M (twin-turbo 3.0L six, 473 hp) and X3 M Competition (503 hp) trim levels. Again, Canada skips the base FWD variant.
The BMW X4 also received a refresh for 2022, with revised exterior and interior styling, new seat upholstery and colours, ambient lighting, new alloy wheel designs and paint colors, an M Sport package for the xDrive30i and 48V mild hybrid technology for the M40i. The X4 can be chosen in xDrive30i (turbo 2.0L four, 248 hp), M40i (turbo 3.0L six, 382 hp), U.S.-only X4 M (twin-turbo 3.0L six, 473 hp) and X4 M Competition (503 hp) variants.
The BMW X5 range consists of the sDrive40i/xDrive40i (turbo 3.0L six, 335 hp), the xDrive45e (PHEV with turbo 3.0L six, 389 combined hp), the M50i (twin-turbo 4.4L V8, 523 hp), the X5 M (twin-turbo 4.4L V8, 600 hp) and the X5 M Competition (617 hp). Canada does not get the sDrive40i or the X5 M, though. A 350-unit run of the BMW X5 Black Vermillion edition is available in the U.S. for the 2022 model year. Based on the xDrive40i, it features Frozen Black Metallic paint with red accenting, an M Sport package, Full Merino Black Leather with red piping and contrast stitching, carbon fibre interior trim and more.
The BMW X6 coupe crossover gets no announced changes for 2022. The lineup includes the sDrive40i/xDrive40i (turbo 3.0L six, 335 hp), the M50i (twin-turbo 4.4L V8, 523 hp), the X6 M (twin-turbo 4.4L V8, 600 hp) and the X6 M Competition (617 hp), although again, Canada snubs the sDrive40i and X6 M trims.
New for 2019, the BMW X7 enters the 2022 model year with no notable changes. The xDrive40i (turbo 3.0L six, 335 hp), M50i (twin-turbo 4.4L V8, 523 hp) and Alpina XB7 (twin-turbo 4.4L V8, 612 hp) soldier on.
