New BMW X5 Reaches The Home Straight With Five Drive Options

The new BMW X5 has reached the closing stretch of its development, with the fifth generation of the Sports Activity Vehicle now undergoing final calibration runs around its home at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg in the USA. This model breaks fresh ground as the first BMW to arrive with a choice of five drive technologies. The fully electric BMW iX5 leads the charge, joined later in 2028 by the first series-production hydrogen BMW, the iX5 Hydrogen. Petrol and diesel variants with 48V mild hybrid tech, plus plug-in hybrids, round out the range that journalists recently sampled before production begins.

The battery-electric BMW iX5 makes its debut on the sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology, built around a new high-voltage battery with cylindrical cells and 800V architecture. With a usable energy content of 144 kWh in the USA and 141 kWh in the EU, the iX5 60 xDrive carries the largest battery yet fitted to an all-electric BMW. Drive comes from one motor on each axle, working hand in hand with BMW xDrive electric all-wheel drive for sure-footed traction in all conditions. It marks a confident step into the marque’s electric future.

Arriving in 2028, the iX5 Hydrogen pairs a third-generation fuel cell system with a fresh high-voltage battery and the new BMW Hydrogen Flat Storage setup. Seven high-pressure tanks, each made from carbon-fibre reinforced composite, sit in parallel within a sturdy metal frame. This clever layout makes the most of the space on board, so no cabin room is sacrificed. There is a further upside, too, as fuel cell models can roll down the same assembly line as every other drivetrain, keeping production flexible and efficient for BMW.

At the core of the driving experience sits the Heart of Joy, a high-performance control unit drawn from the Neue Klasse and running BMW’s in-house Dynamic Performance Control stack. It reacts ten times faster than older systems, tweaking power, brakes, steering, charging and recuperation in mere milliseconds. The payoff is sharp agility, balance and precision. Electric models gain wonderfully smooth stops and recover more energy under braking, while combustion and plug-in variants lean on tenth-generation transverse dynamics management for composed handling, whatever the road throws at them.

Wheels of up to 23 inches and standard mixed-size tyres lift comfort, stability and poise, backed by adaptive suspension with per-wheel electronic dampers and near 50:50 weight distribution. Optional Adaptive Chassis Control Professional adds two-axle air suspension, Integral Active Steering and active roll stabilisation. The X5 also brings next-generation SAE Level 2 driver assistance from the Neue Klasse clusters, including the optional Motorway and City Assistant. The aim is not maximum automation but a safe, controllable partnership in which the driver stays fully involved, supported by quiet safety aids working in the background.