BMW.SG | BMW Singapore Owners Community The Ultimate BMW Community – Established Since 2001
The forthcoming 2026 BMW X5 Range Extender pairs a battery-electric drivetrain with a compact petrol generator to deliver continent-crossing reach without charging anxiety. BMW says the newcomer, developed with long-standing partner ZF, will run well beyond 600 miles before a brief refuel tops the tank and restores the pack, giving drivers the silent surge of an EV and the back-up of a combustion engine in one seamless package.
Under the familiar CLAR chassis lives an 800-volt electrical system and a modular eRE+ unit that can act as both generator and secondary drive source. The petrol engine spins only within its sweet spot, feeding electricity to the high-density cylindrical-cell battery that powers dual motors. Outputs between 148 and 201 bhp for the range-extending engine have been mooted, while the electric motors supply immediate torque to all four wheels through BMW’s latest xDrive software. The layout mirrors lessons learned from the hydrogen-fuelled iX5 prototype, which also used an on-board energy converter to charge a buffer battery.
Early test figures suggest efficiency gains of roughly twenty per cent over current plug-in hybrids, all while trimming CO? in mixed use. With no mechanical link between engine and wheels, NVH levels remain low, and engineers claim the system’s rapid power hand-off is virtually imperceptible from the driver’s seat. The battery can still be charged at high-speed DC stations, yet the petrol generator means rural routes and winter detours no longer hinge on charger availability.
Visually, camouflaged mules hint at subtle Neue Klasse cues: slimmer headlights, flush door handles and refined aerodynamics that cut drag and wind noise. Inside, expect BMW’s curved dual-screen dashboard with Operating System 9, plus recycled trims and ambient lighting drawn from newer i models. The X5 will retain its versatile cabin and generous boot, ensuring practicality matches the drivetrain’s long-legs brief.
BMW is evaluating similar hardware for the next X3 and X7, but the X5 gets first dibs, heading into production in 2026 alongside a pure-electric iX5. By reviving its REx concept in a larger, globally popular SUV, BMW aims to satisfy drivers who want electric propulsion yet still value the freedom to roam far beyond today’s patchy charging networks.
