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BMW unveils fifth‑generation X5 with five powertrain options including hydrogen
BMW has launched the fifth‑generation X5, marketed globally as a 2027 model. The new SUV offers five distinct propulsion choices: conventional gasoline, plug‑in hybrid, a fully electric version with a large‑capacity battery, a hydrogen fuel‑cell model, and an additional hybrid variant. The electric and hydrogen models claim a combined range of up to 845 km.
The X5 adopts BMW’s new “Neue Klasse” design language, featuring a taller front end, simplified body surfaces, distinctive “Iconic Glow” lighting and a dual‑X light signature, as well as wing‑shaped door handles. Inside, the cabin introduces a panoramic iDrive system with a central display, 3D head‑up display and new operating system, plus the first use of slate‑derived stone trim in a production car. The vehicle also gains an adaptive chassis and advanced driver‑assist functions.
The launch was showcased at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic, where BMW also displayed the electrified i7 sedan. At a separate event in Spartanburg, South Carolina, executives explained the removal of the rear split‑door—a feature long associated with the X5—citing design and practicality reasons, a change that has drawn mixed reactions from owners.