BMW has taken the covers off the X5 xDrive45e iPerformance – an electrified version of its popular SUV.
Fitted with a 3.0-litre, twin-turbocharged six-cylinder petrol and BMW’s eDrive technology, the xDrive45e’s powertrain develops 389bhp and offers approximately 50 miles of zero-emission driving – three times that of its predecessor, the xDrive40e.
The powertrain is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and xDrive all-wheel drive – and with that combination, the X5 can get from 0-60mph in just 5.4 seconds.
With this improved electric drive technology, the emissions and efficiency figures of the X5 hybrid have improved considerably, as the xDrive45e emits 49g/km CO2 and achieves a quoted 134.5mpg. The xDrive40e could only achieve 77g/km and 85.6mpg.
Due to the addition of the electric drive system, interior space is compromised – as the boot space is reduced from 650 litres to 500 litres, which is still good for a large SUV. With all the seats folded down, customers will find 1,716 litres of storage space to use.
As standard, the xDrive45e comes with air suspension, but customers can choose to apply the optional sport suspension, which includes integral active steering for improved turn-in and cornering.
Pricing and full specification of the X5 xDrive45e are yet to be confirmed, with more the details to be confirmed closer to the model’s release date in 2019.
