The BMW X5 xDrive40e plug-in hybrid offers an official economy figure of 85.6mpg, 77g/km CO2 emissions, 313hp and 450Nm torque, along with all-wheel-drive.
The BMW X5 xDrive40e – the first plug-in hybrid production car from the BMW core brand – has a four-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, and a synchronous electric motor integrated with the 8-speed Steptronic transmission.
The lithium-ion high-voltage battery pack can be topped up with mains electricity from any standard domestic power socket, or more quickly from the BMW i Wallbox, as well as at public charging stations.
The high-voltage battery, which also supplies power to the battery for the 12V electrical system via a voltage transformer, is housed underneath the luggage compartment floor.
The X5 has a maximum all-electric range of approximately 19 miles at a limited top speed of 75mph, allowing short, everyday journeys in urban areas to be completed with zero tailpipe emissions, while fuel consumption is reduced substantially when driving for distances of up to approximately 15 miles in urban traffic.
The 2.0-litre internal combustion petrol engine fitted in the BMW X5 xDrive40e generates a maximum power of 245hp and 350Nm of peak torque.
The electric motor has an output of 113hp and maximum torque of 250Nm.
The BMW X5 xDrive40e completes the 0 to 62mph sprint in just 6.8 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 130mph. In all-electric drive mode, the vehicle is capable of a top speed of 75mph, again, electronically limited.
The combined power of the two drive units is deployed by an 8-speed Steptronic transmission and the BMW xDrive permanent all-wheel-drive system. Shift paddles on the steering wheel are an option.
An electronically controlled multi-plate clutch allows fully variable distribution of the drive torque between the front and rear wheels. As it is linked to the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), the xDrive system is capable of acting in advance to counter vehicle understeer or oversteer, and to split the distribution of torque for the best handling balance.
When the vehicle is first started, the default AUTO eDrive setting is activated, with both engine and electric motor working efficiently together. The electric motor alone is used for setting off with normal power requirements, while the engine cuts in at around 44 mph or when the driver wishes to accelerate briskly.
The driver can also switch to the all-electric drive mode setting. This mode is designed for comfortable driving with zero local emissions, and offers a maximum range of approximately 19 miles at a limited top speed of 75mph.
The third mode available is the SAVE Battery setting, which allows the driver to conserve or build up the high-voltage battery’s reserves for later on. When driving on the motorway, for instance, the state of charge can be kept constant or even boosted in order to use the high-voltage battery’s power for all-electric driving in urban areas later in the journey.
The BMW X5 xDrive40e also features as standard the Driving Experience Control switch, just like the conventionally powered model variants of the X5. This can be used to activate the vehicle set-up modes COMFORT, SPORT and ECO PRO, which each have the effect of altering the throttle mapping, the steering characteristics, the responses of the 8-speed Steptronic transmission, as well as the characteristics of the Dynamic Damper Control included as standard on the BMW X5 xDrive40e.
The ECO PRO mode offers efficiency-optimised control of electrically powered comfort functions, such as the air conditioning, seat heating and heated mirrors.
When travelling on the overrun at speeds between 0-100mph, the coasting function shuts off the engine, allowing the vehicle to glide along without burning any fuel.
When hooked up to a conventional domestic power socket the high-voltage battery can be fully recharged from flat in around 3 hours and 50 minutes. Using a BMW i Wallbox the battery can be charged in 2 hours 45 minutes from empty.
The BMW X5 xDrive40e is manufactured at the BMW Spartanburg plant in the US state of South Carolina.
The BMW X5 xDrive 40e goes on sale Autumn 2015. Prices will be announced at a later date.
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