BMW has confirmed the next-generation X5 is in its final stages of development, with a world premiere expected in the coming weeks. What makes this particular model unlike anything BMW has produced before is its powertrain lineup, the 2027 X5 is the first BMW model built to house five separate powertrains in a single body: petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric, and eventually a hydrogen fuel cell variant.
The Lineup
The X5 40 xDrive will produce 400 hp, the X5 50e xDrive plug-in hybrid is rated at 490 hp, and the iX5 60 xDrive electric comes in at 578 hp. The X5 40 xDrive runs 0–62 mph in 5.4 seconds, the X5 50e xDrive in 5.0 seconds, and the iX5 60 xDrive in 4.7 seconds.
The electric iX5 is the headline act. According to leaked EPA and CARB certification data, the iX5 60 xDrive has a dual-motor AWD setup producing around 569 hp, with a 10–80% charging session expected to take about 25 minutes on a compatible DC fast charger.
Based on EPA and CARB certification data, the iX5 60 xDrive is expected to complete a 10–80% DC fast-charge in approximately 25 minutes, putting it on par with the best fast-charging EVs currently on sale.
Hydrogen Comes Later
The hydrogen fuel cell version, the iX5 Hydrogen, is built in collaboration with Toyota and is scheduled for launch in 2028. BMW and Toyota have been co-developing hydrogen fuel cell technology since 2013, and the iX5 Hydrogen represents the first passenger-car result of that partnership reaching the market.
Hydrogen variants are likely to remain limited in volume at launch, tied closely to the availability of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, a network that remains in early development in Australia.
Engineering Behind the Flexibility
Front and rear axle carrier mounting points are identical across the ICE, PHEV, and BEV versions, only the hardware bolted to them changes. This single-platform approach is central to BMW’s Neue Klasse strategy, allowing the same production line to accommodate radically different drivetrains without retooling.
BMW also targeted even front-to-rear weight distribution on every version, with the BEV battery sitting low between the axles. The result is a centre of gravity lower than the outgoing X5 across all powertrain variants, a meaningful gain for a vehicle that is now considerably heavier in its electric form.
Australia Timing
The 2027 BMW X5 is expected to launch in the October–December 2026 period. Australian pricing and variant details are yet to be confirmed, but the X5 has historically arrived in Australia within months of its global debut.
The current X5 xDrive40i starts from $119,900 in Australia. With the expanded powertrain range and updated platform, a price increase across the lineup is widely expected, though BMW Australia has not yet commented on 2027 pricing.
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