BMW X5 xDrive40e plug-in hybrid set for Shanghai debut

BMW will introduce the X5 xDrive40e, its first plug-in hybrid SUV, at the 2015 Shanghai Motor Show. The new model combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, producing a total of 313hp and 450Nm of torque.

The X5 xDrive40e uses a 9kWh lithium-ion battery, which BMW says can be recharged in under four hours from a standard socket or in 2 hours 45 minutes using the optional BMW i Wallbox. In pure electric mode, the X5 can travel up to 31km and reach speeds of up to 120km/h before the petrol engine is required.

BMW claims a 0–100km/h time of 6.8 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 210km/h. The official combined fuel consumption figure is 3.3–3.4L/100km, with CO2 emissions rated at 78g/km under the NEDC cycle. These figures place the X5 xDrive40e among the most efficient vehicles in its segment at the time of launch.

Powertrain and charging details

The plug-in hybrid system pairs BMW’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (245hp, 350Nm) with a synchronous electric motor (113hp, 250Nm). The combined system output is managed through an eight-speed automatic transmission and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The battery is installed beneath the luggage compartment, preserving most of the X5’s interior space.