Tag Archives: x5
2020 BMW X5 xDrive45e iPerformance Gets Enhanced Drivetrain Options
It’s not exactly the easiest name to remember. Thankfully, Twitter stretched its character limit, so we can now tweet about the new 2020 BMW X5 xDrive45e iPerformance. We haven’t even managed to get our hands on the BMW X5, but we’re already dealing with a performance version of the car that would depend on a host of electric powertrains.
The new plug-in X5 is going to replace the X5 xDrive40e and would be different in every single thing that matters. This new car is going to leave behind its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine for a 3.0-liter inline-six that makes 286 horsepower. This engine will be paired with a 112-horsepower electric motor for a total output of 394 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. BMW’s all-wheel-drive system should be connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It can accelerate to 60 mph from a complete stop in just 5.6 seconds. The top speed was bumped to 146 mph.
The 2020 BMW X5 xDrive45e iPerformance is going to answer another problem that the current X5 xDrive40e is having. Today’s X5 xDrive40e can only go 14 miles from a full charge, but this new car is going to bump that number to an estimated 50 miles. Some people could even go their entire trip in electric mode. When in this mode, top speed would be 87 mph from the previous 74 mph.
Since this is an iPerformance trim, BMW placed the lithium-ion batteries under the body of the vehicle. This resulted in better handling because the center of gravity was lower compared to other X5 models. There’s one downside, though: the X5 xDrive45e iPerformance is going to lose about five cubic feet of storage space because of the battery pack.
Europe will get this car in 2019. The United States would have to wait, though. Pricing isn’t available for now but as a reference, the base 2019 X5 begins at $61,695 while the top-of-the-line is $76,745.
Pricing for the 2019 BMW X5 Announced, Starts At $61K
BMW finally announced the prices for its new luxury crossover SUV, the 2019 X5. The new BMW X5 is available in just two models—the xDrive40i ($61,695) and the xDrive50i ($76,745). The starting price is an increase from the outgoing 2018 BMW X5.
The lineup of the crossover has also been slimmed down. The 2018 lineup used to have a two-wheel drive, a diesel, and hybrid models. However, the 2019 lineup offers none of the said options.
Instead, the xDrive40i gets a six-cylinder engine while the xDrive50i is powered by a V8 engine. The xDrive40i gets a slightly higher price increase. It’s priced $1,200 more than the cheapest all-wheel-drive model, the xDrive35i. But compared with the even cheaper rear-wheel-drive sDrive35i, the difference is $1,500.
On the other hand, the xDrive50i saw a higher price increase from the previous model. The difference is $1,700. Don’t fret, though, since the two new models are more powerful and perform better than their predecessors. That more than makes up for the price increase.
The 2019 xDrive40i makes an extra 35 horsepower, pushing the total to 335 ponies. It also produces 330 pound-feet of torque. The xDrive50i, meanwhile, gets 456 horses from last year’s 450.
Both models will get ZF’s eight-speed automatic transmission. They’ll also be packed with the xLine specification, which includes Dynamic Damper Control, two 12.3″ screens, adaptive LED headlights, and safety assists such as blind spot detection and frontal collision warning. There’s also the city driving assist system aptly called the City Collision Mitigation.
The xDrive40i and the xDrive50i are both configured for towing. They have the hauling power of a 6,600-pound trailer and there’s an available option of tow hitch rated for 7,200 pounds. There’s another option—an off-road package that includes air suspension and mechanical locking rear differential.
Buyers may also get the performance-oriented M Sport package, remote starting, BMW’s Laserlights with a heated steering wheel, and heated and cooled cupholders.
The 2019 BMW X5 will be available in dealerships starting on November 10 this year.
Of Course, Nobody Likes The Smaller Trunk of the New BMW X5
There’s nothing more disheartening than finding out that the new 2019 BMW X5 you have been waiting for has a smaller trunk despite it being slightly bigger and having more legroom for passengers. Oh wait, perhaps that is the problem. When BMW decided to give more room for rear passengers, it ironically (and perhaps, questionably) decided that the best way to give that space is to take it from the cargo space.
The new X5 is two inches longer and more than two inches wider than the previous generation, but the cargo capacity has somewhat been diminished to just 31.7 cubic feet with the rear seats up. That’s down from the predecessor’s 35.8 cubic feet capacity. Let’s do that math: that’s four cubic feet less or 11 percent less than the old X5.
There is no information about the cargo space when the rear seats are folded flat, but you can expect that number to drop, too, given that the overall cargo capacity shrunk. The outgoing BMW X5 can carry 76.7 cubic feet of luggage, which will drop to less than 70 cubic feet in the new X5.
How did this happen? There’s no exact explanation and BMW hasn’t offered one just yet. The official specifications from the German automaker said that the new-generation X5’s gasoline variant would have 31.7 cubic feet and this one has no battery or hybrid system that need space. And even if there’s a hybrid or EV variant, the systems should not take that much space since batteries are usually stored beneath the floor.
It looks like BMW simply made the X5’s trunk smaller to differentiate it from the upcoming X7, which is designed to have the largest trunk yet in the German brand’s lineup. If that’s the plan, then BMW has just lost its edge over the Audi Q7 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE, both of which the current generation X5 has trumped in terms of cargo space.
What We Can Derive From New BMW X5 Spy Shots
Engineers at the BMW plant in Munich have been very busy these past weeks. Spy photographers have been capturing photos of new models such as the upcoming BMW 8 Series coupe and convertible, the BMW X7, and finally, the BMW X5. For the last one, we’ve got spy photos both of the exterior and the interior.
Based on the spy shots of AutoBlog, the BMW X5 looks like a shorter version of the X7. That should not come as a surprise since this is essentially what the German automaker planned for the X5 because it is being marketed for an audience that would love the X7 but with shorter wheelbase. Then again, the X5 is not even the shortest wheelbase the BMW is using as a platform. The smaller BMW X3 is taking after the same design and style as the X7 and the X5.
Basically, what we’re going to see on the BMW X5 is about the same thing as what we saw on the X7. They have the same headlights, the same taillights, and the same bucktooth grille that has even avid fans walking away from the SUV.
The overall design was already previewed on the concept unveiled by the German automaker in various motor shows. It was recently seen on the X3, so there’s little mystery on what the X5 will probably look like. This is an evolution of the same basic design that BMW has been using for more than a decade.
The X5’s interior is almost an exact copy of what we recently saw on the X7. It’s quite different from the cabin designs that BMW has fitted most of its models, but since we haven’t seen it in person yet, we’ll reserve our comments on that. What we can see is that there’s a new shifter design and majority of the buttons, including the push-button start, have been moved from the dashboard to the console.
The reveal will probably be sometime later this year.
4 Things We Can Learn From The 2018 BMW X5
In 2000, BMW finally joined the fray of crossovers with the BMW X5. It has spawned four other crossovers, and has been through three different generational changes. The first one was in 2006 with the E70 X5 for a 2007 model, then the next in 2013 with the current F15 generation.
Based on calculations, it’s about time for us to get another generational update from the BMW X5. We’ve seen spy shots of the new X5 from TopSpeed, and we can’t wait to learn more about it.
1. Exterior
The spy shots did not reveal much about the exterior of the new X5. Although it’s clearly BMW’s crossover, there are no side skirts, a minimal front fascia, and a pair of headlights that look like it came from a 2000 model.
From the sides, the body line along the doors and fenders looks and feels like the current X5. The lower body lines on the doors may be carried over to the production model, but we’ll have to wait and see. Like the rest of the exterior, there is no significant change on the rear, except that those taillights would definitely be a departure from the current generation X5.
2. Interior
What we can expect from the new model is that it will be more comfortable and will be packed with new tech and safety features. The probably upgrades are: softer leather seats with better padding, a different instrument cluster layout (maybe even a TFT display), and a thinner infotainment screen.
BMW’s 7 Series already had the gesture control down pat, so maybe we’ll see that one here, too.
3. Drivetrain
It’s still too early to speculate on what the drivetrain would be for the new X5, although we can expect it to have more power and torque than the current 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque being produced by the 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder.
4. Pricing
The current X5 has a starting price of $54,700 for the sDrive 35i while the range-topping xDrive 50i sells for $71,599. It’s pure speculation at this point but based on the additional upgrades, the X5 might sell for $2,000 more than the current base price.
