World Debut: BMW X5 xDrive40e Plug-in Hybrid – Photo Gallery

 

BMW chose an SUV to show us what they learned in the field of hybrids and that says a lot about the demand customers have and their preferences. While some might view this as peculiar, we’re more than glad they picked the X5 as the first of its kind.

 

Back in 1999, this car was opening a new chapter in the history of the brand and it’s only fair that it is the one that opens this new one as well. Let’s get down to the details therefore.

 

On the outside you won’t notice any changes because there are none. Of course, now we have a new ‘fuel cap’ on the front left fender for the plug but, along with the new, optimized wheels, that’s about it. Inside it’s the same story, the batteries being stored under the luggage compartment in the back, taking away an extremely small amount of space.

 

Those are the numbers everyone was expecting. We’ve been trying to figure them out way before the official specs came out but everything was kept so hush-hush that we couldn’t find anything out.

 

Under the bonnet the xDrive40e uses a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine good for 245 HP and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque, the same used on all 28i models. 

 

Working alongside it is a synchronous electric motor integrated in the 8-speed Steptronic transmission that is rated at 113 HP and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque. However, the numbers don’t just add up like on the i8.

 

In this case, the total output is 313 HP and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque, numbers that allow the car to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill in 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph) that’s electronically limited.

 

On electric power alone, the car can travel up to 31 km (19 miles) and accelerate to 75 mph (120 km/h). When both means of propulsion are used, the fuel consumption is rated at between 3.4 and 3.3 l/100 km (83.1 – 85.6 mpg imp) and 15.4 – 15.3 kWh/100 km with CO2 emissions low down at 78 – 77 g/km.

 

The battery itself, located under the luggage compartment, has a capacity of 9 kWh being made up of 96 lithium-ion cells. It can be recharged from any power socket, the BMW i Wallbox or the engine itself as the X5 has a couple of aces up its sleeve.

 

The X5 xDrive40e moves away from the usual driving modes. You can now enter the new eDrive modes using a button located next to the gearshift lever. With it, you can enter AUTO eDrive, MAX eDrive and SAVE Battery modes.

In the AUTO eDrive basic setting, the car is using the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. The electric motor alone is used for setting off with normal power requirements, while the engine cuts in at around 70 km/h (44 mph) or when the driver wishes to accelerate suddenly.
 

Going into MAX eDrive, the car will run only on electric mode while the SAVE battery mode will cause the battery’s state of charge to be maintained and replenished by various means for example energy recuperation.

The xDrive system is connected to the new Navigation system that knows when you’re going uphill, downhill or entering a crowded area.

Therefore, an intelligent energy management function is offered as standard to feed data on the route profile to the powertrain controls. On highways, for example, the ICE is turned completely off, the electric motor taking over to maintain the speed without burning any fuel.
 

Of course, almost all of the optional features available on standard models will be available for purchase including the exclusive design worlds. The only question that remains unanswered up until now is the price tag and delivery dates but they’ll surely be revealed in the upcoming days.