BMW X5 reaches final testing, will offer electric, hydrogen, hybrid and conventional engines

BMW’s fifth‑generation X5 is in the final stage of testing near the company’s Spartanburg plant in South Carolina. The new luxury SUV will be the first BMW model offered with five distinct powertrain options: a fully electric iX5, a hydrogen‑fuel‑cell iX5 Hydrogen slated for 2028, mild‑hybrid gasoline and diesel versions using a 48 V system, and plug‑in hybrid variants.

The electric iX5 is built on BMW’s sixth‑generation eDrive architecture, features an 800 V system and the largest battery ever fitted to a BMW – 144 kWh for the U.S. market (141 kWh for Europe). The upcoming hydrogen version will use a new fuel‑cell stack, a flat‑storage system with seven high‑pressure tanks and an innovative high‑voltage battery. All versions will incorporate advanced Level‑2 driver assistance, adaptive chassis control and a new iDrive interface.

The development signals BMW’s broader strategy to expand electrified mobility across its lineup while maintaining conventional engine options for markets where they remain in demand.