Next-Gen BMW X5 Stays Hybrid And Electric With A 700hp Punch

The forthcoming BMW X5 enters its next chapter by catering to every type of driver, pairing a revitalised mild-hybrid V8 with a high-voltage all-electric alternative. Early test mules already wear hints of BMW’s Neue Klasse styling, but beneath the camouflage lies proven CLAR underpinnings ready to accept both cylinders and cells.

For traditionalists, the petrol-fuelled G65 variant keeps the 4.4-litre S68 twin-turbo V8, now integrated with a 48-volt system that boosts low-speed response and trims emissions. Engineers are said to be targeting outputs beyond today’s X5 M, meaning well north of 617 bhp while retaining the muscular soundtrack that has long defined the model. Multiple calibrations are planned, allowing BMW to mirror the current M60i-to-M hierarchy without relying solely on sheer displacement.

Side-by-side on the development track is the G95 pure EV, set to eclipse even the iX M70’s figures by delivering more than 700 bhp through dual motors and next-generation battery chemistry. Fast recharging and improved thermal management promise long-distance confidence, while xDrive all-wheel drive and near-instant torque will give the electric X5 the authority to shadow super-saloon acceleration times.

Despite contrasting powertrains, both versions will share a refreshed cabin with BMW’s curved dual-screen cockpit and Operating System 9. Expect recyclable trims, chiselled ambient lighting and a revised iDrive controller to sit alongside driver-assistance upgrades derived from the 7 Series. Exterior designers are blending crisp Neue Klasse details—slimmer headlights, reprofiled kidney grilles, and flush door handles—with the X5’s familiar athletic stance, ensuring clear lineage without radical departure.

Production schedules point to the mild-hybrid V8 rolling off Spartanburg lines in mid-2026, followed roughly eighteen months later by the fully electric flagship. In the meantime, BMW continues to evaluate market demand for performance variants across the wider X6 and X7 range, hinting that the hybrid V8 may remain exclusive to regions where high-output petrol engines still resonate.

Whether ordered with pistons or power cells, the next-generation BMW X5 looks set to satisfy loyalists and early adopters alike, delivering substantial performance gains while charting a pragmatic course through the industry’s electrified future.