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BMW i Hydrogen NEXT Previews Production Fuell Cell X5

BMW's Frankfurt lineup predictably has a strong focus on SUVs and the Bavarians decided to bring spicy crossovers to the German venue. We have already covered the X5 Protection VB6 armored vehicle and the black hole lookalike that is the X6 Vantablack earlier this year, so let's take the time to discuss the i Hydrogen NEXT concept debuting at the venue.
BMW i Hydrogen NEXT 28 photos
Photo: Stefan Baldauf/ SB-Medien
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While EVs are in the midsts of a public adoption revolution, we still can't say the same about fuell cell vehicles, while rely on hydrogren to produce electricity on board. And BMW is one of the carmakers that continue to push this type of propulsion forward.

The i Hydrogen NEXT looks like the current X5, while packing striking blue accents for the body and wheels. Of course, it lacks exhaust pipes, with the place these used to be now occupied by panels that come in the said accent color.

The German carmaker hasn't offered any tech details on the machine, but the i Hydrogen NEXT will evolved into a road-legal fuel cell vehicle in 2022. The electric SUV promises a hefty driving range, along with a refueling time of below four minutes.

As it has been the case with the Hydrogen 7, only a limited number of units will be released.

However, if demand and infrastructure allow it, BMW plans to introduced a full-scale production fuel cell vehicle in 2025 (this is the earliest estimate).

Now, let's move on to the other two SUVs mentioned in the intro, which you can also check out in the live image gallery above.

In case you're looking for a vault on wheels, there are a few things you should know about the X5 Protection VR6. The final part of the SUV's designation indicates the level or armour.

In other words, the BMW can deal with AK-47 bulletsm hand grenade attacks and even a black caused by 15 kg (33 lbs) of TNT from 4 meters (13 feet) away.

As for the Vantablack finish covering the new BMW X6 in Frankfurt, this has been designed to absord 99.96 percent of visible light.

Coming from a specialist called Surrey Nanosystems, the coating makes for an oddball-grade sight in person and goes well beoynd the "darnkess" of any finish you've ever seen, from matte vynils to velvet wraps.
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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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