BMW Reveals First Details of 2019 X5 SUV Plug-In Hybrid Version
BMW already confirmed that a plug-in hybrid version of its upcoming redesigned 2019 X5 SUV would come to America, and now the automaker has revealed the first details on the European spec. Like its predecessor, the X5 xDrive45e iPerformance will be a plug-in hybrid SUV (still not SAV, BMW) with an absurdly long and complicated name. Photos here show the Euro-spec 2019 X5 xDrive45e, but BMW says its U.S. counterpart won’t come for another two full model years.
Related: 2019 BMW X5 Rolls Into Dealers in Time for Turkey Day
While the outgoing X5 plug-in hybrid drew power from an electric motor and turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the X5 xDrive45e iPerformance gets a 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder gas engine to pair with its electric motor. Total system output is now 394 horsepower and 443 pounds-feet of torque, significant increases over the 2018 model and an indication that the SUV might have some “i”-opening (sorry) performance.
The Bavarian automaker claims the new X5 plug-in has a zero-to-62-mph time of 5.6 seconds, which it says is more than a second quicker than the outgoing model. The new model can also run on electric-only power up to speeds of 87 mph, up from almost 75 mph in previous versions. BMW also notes that the plug-in hybrid model has a lower center of gravity than its gas-only siblings thanks to the position of the battery powering the electric motor.
All X5 xDrive45e iPerformance models have adjustable air suspensions as standard equipment, while BMW’s optional Integral Active Steering system increases maneuverability at low speeds by altering the steering ratio and enabling rear-wheel steering.
All plug-in hybrid models of the new X5 will be available with the same safety features on the gas versions, according to BMW, as well as, “high-quality options to enhance comfort and luxurious interior ambiance.” New technology that focuses on “electromobility” will also join the X5 xDrive45e iPerformance, along with the technology updates available across the 2019 X5 lineup.
Most hybrid vehicles lose some cargo space to accommodate battery storage and other hybrid-essential parts, and the X5 xDrive45e iPerformance is no different. In European specifications, the plug-in hybrid is short by 150 liters of cargo space when compared to gas-only models. A rough conversion puts that at nearly 5.3 cubic feet, but what that actually means for U.S. cargo measurements — and real-world cargo space — remains to be seen.
Key details like gas mileage and electric range have yet to be specified for the U.S. version, and BMW’s timeframe on the plug-in-hybrid X5 — which it expects to launch in the U.S. in 2020 as a 2021 model — means it could be months or even years before we find out more. Other specs, including horsepower and torque, may also change slightly for the journey stateside.
The non-hybrid 2019 BMW X5 hits U.S. dealerships in November. Stay tuned to Cars.com, as we’ll be driving it soon.
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