We say "might" because we're at the X5 factory in Spartanburg, South Carolina, driving heavily camouflaged G65 prototypes. The exteriors have rigid vanity covers affixed with screws hiding the fascias' styling cues, and the interiors are fully covered like Grandma's davenport—but instead of covering everything in clear polyethylene, the X5's new interior is clad in opaque, black, and securely adhered fabric. These cars are mostly there; final tuning is yet to be locked in, but this gives us a very good idea of what to expect when the full unveil takes place.
We had all three 2027 X5 models on hand; each carries some level of electrification and all (at least initially) feature all-wheel drive. The X5 40 xDrive comes with a 400-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six bolstered by a 48-volt hybrid system. A ZF eight-speed automatic transmission manages the engine's 398 lb-ft of torque. The inline-six is predictably silky, and the transmission calibration feels spot on. Sport mode will wake it up a bit if you're needing a lower gear more often than you think. The engine makes plenty of power, and when we strap on our test gear on the 2027 models late this year, we're expecting the X5 40 xDrive to hit 60 mph in around 4.5 seconds.
View Price on AmazonStepping up to the plug-in X5 50e xDrive adds 90 extra horses to the mix, a large percentage of which come from a 197-hp electric motor housed within the eight-speed automatic. The whole powertrain is effectively a carryover from the outgoing X5 50e. The inline-six here is the same engine that's in the 40, though its max output is capped at 313 horses, and it's every bit as smooth; we didn't even notice the first time the straight-six fired up in traffic. This 400-volt plug-in hybrid has a 26-kWh battery, which we believe will be good for over 30 miles of electric range (final numbers remain state secrets).
Fans of the V-8 X5s of yore will likely find disappointment in the fact that an EV now lives atop the range: the 578-hp iX5 60 xDrive. As the name suggests, this two-row EV effectively supplants the iX in the U.S. It has an estimated 141-kWh battery pack that uses new cylindrical cells (final pack numbers and specific chemistry details will arrive at a later date). An induction motor capable of mustering 249 horses powers the front axle, while an externally excited synchronous machine capable of 329 horsepower turns the rear. Unlike many EVs with fuzzy output math, the iX5's motors are each humming to their maximum potential at full whack. BMW says the 60 xDrive will hit 62 mph in 4.7 seconds, which should put its 60-mph time in the low-4s. Its 800-volt architecture will support modern DC fast-charging too (again, specifics are TBD, but expect a highly competitive charging rate).
Steel coil springs come standard on the 40, but the ride-and-handling department threw just about every (optional) bell and whistle it could find at the G65. Active anti-roll bars do a fantastic job of eliminating head toss, resulting in a truly luxurious ride. Air springs are optional, as is rear-wheel steering. The X5 50e and iX5 60 we drove were fully outfitted, and with our limited exposure, it's pretty clear that BMW tuned the new X5 with a luxury focus.
Source: caranddriver.com
