BMW X5 xDrive40e, 313 CV and 3.3 litres per 100 km

BMW has unveiled its first SUV with plug-in hybrid technology. It is the X5 xDrive40e, which thus becomes one of the most eco-friendly models in the German manufacturer’s range.

While this model is not the first plug-in hybrid from BMW (the innovative i8 has been on the market for a few months now), it is the first built on a production model such as the popular X5.

Externally, the X5 xDrive40e does not differ from any other conventional X5. Only the most observant will notice that it is not a standard X5 thanks to a second flap on the side of the car, specifically on the driver’s side, in the front wing. This is the spot the brand’s engineers chose to house the charging port with which the X5 recharges its batteries.

Inside, the picture is the same. The ambience remains exactly the same as in any other X5, and only a small button around the gear lever labelled “eDrive” and a light strip running across the dashboard tell us that this X5 has a taste for electricity.

Mechanically, the X5 xDrive40e uses a layout based on a 2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Thanks to turbocharging, it produces 245 CV and 350 Nm. In fact, it is the same engine BMW uses in other models such as the 328i and 428i. An electric motor also joins the scene, powered by a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 9 kWh, which, combined with the combustion engine, brings the total output of the system up to 313 CV. Both power units send their force to the road through an 8-speed Steptronic automatic gearbox that transmits the power to an all-wheel-drive system.

Capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds, the xDrive40e offers, on the other hand, a highly commendable running economy with an average consumption of 3.3 litres per 100 km. The batteries provide a maximum range of 31 kilometres, with a charging time of up to 3 hours and 50 minutes when using a standard plug.

Source | BMW

Technical specifications of this car

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