During
the course of the test programme, which was further intensified in 2020, the
BMW Group’s new technology
flagship impressed with both its outstanding occupant protection and its
advanced driver assistance systems, which are particularly effective in helping
to prevent accidents.
Meanwhile,
the integrated safety concept of the BMW iX ensures the highest level of
passenger protection. In addition to precisely coordinated restraint systems,
this includes highly resilient support structures and precisely designed
deformation zones that absorb the impact of a collision and keep it away from
the passenger compartment. The body structure of the BMW iX combines an
aluminium spaceframe concept with a carbon cage for the passenger compartment.
Particularly
torsion-resistant components made of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) are
used in the roof, side and rear sections of the BMW iX. “The BMW iX sets new
standards in sustainability, and its top rating of five stars in the Euro NCAP
underlines the vehicle’s comprehensive sustainability concept,” says
Dominik Schuster, Head of Vehicle Safety BMW, adding that, “The extremely
stable body structure and the extended range of restraint systems ensure an
outstanding level of occupant protection. In addition, the BMW iX scores highly
both in the test programme and in everyday driving with innovative driver
assistance systems that significantly reduce the risk of accidents in a wide
array of situations.”
Among other features, the BMW iX has a front collision
warning system with brake intervention that can detect pedestrians and cyclists
as well as vehicles. In addition, the automatic emergency braking system now
also reacts in turning situations, helping to minimise the risk to pedestrians
when turning and the risk of collision with oncoming traffic when turning
left. If a collision does occur, the
risk of injury to vulnerable road users is reduced by carefully designed body
elements and flexible structures at the front of the vehicle.
The
BMW iX also features an active bonnet, which is raised by means of a
pyrotechnical triggering mechanism as soon as the data collected by sensors
indicate a corresponding collision. This creates a deformation zone that
prevents direct impact between the pedestrian or cyclist and hard components in
the engine compartment.
Other
standard features of the BMW iX include an attention assistant, lane departure
warning and speed limit recognition, all of which scored positively in the Euro
NCAP crash test. The Driving Assistant Professional package is offered as an option,
which also includes steering and lane guidance assistance. In a separate
assessment, BMW’s Driving Assistant Professional in the iX3 was also recently
awarded the top rating of “very good” by Euro NCAP.