BMW Just Made Its EV SUV Cheaper and Its Performance Cars Darker

BMW’s latest round of updates is less about headline-grabbing reveals and more about fine-tuning the details. A few models get darker styling, the iX3 lineup grows with a cheaper version, and there are several smaller upgrades scattered across the range ahead of summer.

The biggest styling change is the new Black Package for M Performance versions of the 3-Series, 4-Series Gran Coupe, and i4 Gran Coupe. Paired with the M Sport Pro package, it adds black badges, black 19-inch lightweight wheels, carbon-fiber trim, and a revised M steering wheel. BMW says the look is motorsport-inspired, though really it’s aimed at people who think chrome should have stayed in the early 2000s.

BMW is also expanding the iX3 lineup with a new entry-level version called the iX3 40. It uses a smaller 82.6 kWh battery and a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 316 hp and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. BMW says it’ll hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.9 seconds and deliver up to 395 miles of WLTP range, which should make it a solid option for buyers who don’t necessarily need the more expensive dual-motor versions.

The iX3 also gains several new BMW Individual paint colors with names that sound like expensive nail polish shades, including Twilight Purple, Java Green, and Sepang Bronze. New 21-inch wheels, a two-tone interior option, and available heated rear seats also join the mix.

Elsewhere, BMW’s eco-focused M Ignite production process starts rolling out to the M3, M4, and later the M2, while smaller updates include new M-striped keys for X3 M Sport models and a revised Intelligent Personal Assistant. Typical BMW stuff, really. Quiet improvements most people won’t notice until they’re halfway through configuring one online.