While the rest of the automotive world watches China devour its customer base like a buffet that just announced free refills, BMW has decided the best counterattack is to keep building electric vehicles that are actually good. The latest salvo is the BMW iX4, a coupe-shaped SUV that takes the iX3 and gives it a sportier attitude, presumably so you can look cool while single-handedly defending Western civilization from Chinese imports.

The iX4 is the third vehicle built on BMW's next-generation Neue Klasse platform, following the iX3 and i3. The iX4 50 xDrive arrives first in March 2027, with a high-performance M60 xDrive version coming later that year. BMW is positioning this lineup as its bulwark against the flood of Chinese EVs currently decimating other European brands. Whether BMW can actually compete on affordability, however, remains the elephant in the room - an elephant that costs $66,200 before destination and handling fees, to be precise.

The iX4 50 xDrive starts at $66,200 and carries all the hallmarks of BMW's Neue Klasse models: a "Gen6" high-voltage battery with 112.2kWh of usable energy, an 800-volt architecture for rapid charging, and up to 428 miles of range based on EPA estimates. That's more range than the Tesla Model Y, the best-selling EV in the world. BMW has been exceeding range expectations so consistently that even InsideEVs is wondering if it's overkill. Tesla and others have done just fine in the mid-300s, and Lucid continues to struggle despite exceeding 500 miles. But BMW believes range and efficiency are its biggest selling points. The third would be performance - both the 50 xDrive and M60 xDrive feature dual-motor setups. The 50 xDrive produces 463 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque, hitting 0 - 60mph in 4.7 seconds. The M60 xDrive bumps that to 603hp and 645 lb-ft, shaving a full second off the 0 - 60 time.

Like other Neue Klasse vehicles, the rear axle uses an electrically excited synchronous motor (EESM) as the primary drive axle, using electricity instead of permanent magnets to power both its stator outer frame and interior spinning rotor. An inverter converts DC from the battery into AC for the motor, regulates the electromagnets, and monitors performance. BMW says this slashes drive-system energy losses by 40 percent and weight by 10 percent.

The Gen6 batteries use cylindrical lithium-ion cells measuring 46mm in diameter and 95mm in height, providing a 20 percent increase in energy density over the prismatic cells in BMW's Gen5 batteries. BMW eliminated traditional modules in favor of a "pack-to-open-body" construction where the battery housing serves as the vehicle's underbody, reducing weight and increasing torsional rigidity.

Like Hyundai and Kia, BMW is building its Neue Klasse EVs to take fast charging up a notch. With its 800V architecture, the iX4 accepts up to 400kW of DC fast charging, adding up to 184 miles of range in 10 minutes and going from 10 to 80 percent in just 21 minutes. With a NACS charging port, it's compatible with over 80,000 Tesla Supercharger connectors worldwide.

The Panoramic iDrive infotainment system replaces traditional gauge clusters with a heads-up-style projection across the full width of the lower windshield. The 17.9-inch central touchscreen is a free-cut display where you can drag and drop up to six widgets - media, weather, navigation - directly onto the windshield display. Like the i3 and iX3, the iX4 supports bidirectional charging with vehicle-to-load and vehicle-to-home capabilities, an intelligent charging flap that opens when the driver approaches a known charging point, and Plug & Charge for automatic charging at 10 different providers.

The whole package is compelling. Sure, the Model Y beats the iX4 in a few areas - most importantly price. It's a bit quicker off the line, and it offers Full Self-Driving (Supervised). BMW counters with "Symbiotic Drive," a Level 2 system designed for "fluid, intuitive interaction," meaning drivers can adjust steering or brake without canceling automated functions. The iX4 also allows hands-free highway driving, but no point-to-point assisted driving until 2027 at the earliest.

Where BMW still beats Tesla is variety. You can get the iX4 50 xDrive or the sportier M60 xDrive. Want a sedan? There's the i3. Something more affordable? The iX3. And don't forget the flagship 7 Series, which is also getting a Neue Klasse makeover. Tesla has the Model 3 and Model Y - and that's about it. (Yes, there's the Cybertruck, but clearly most people aren't interested. And the Cybercab won't be on sale anytime soon.) BMW knows its customers want options, and it's doing its best to deliver. Whether that's enough to fend off China's affordability advantage is another question entirely.