2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e hybrid goes on sale this fall

LATEST BMW SUV BOASTS 308 HP, 55 MPGE AND A 13-MILE ALL-ELECTRIC RANGE

BMW took its next step in electric vehicle production, announcing the 2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e SUV, which goes on sale this fall. This is the first plug-in hybrid production model from the core BMW brand. The company says it benefits from what it learned on the i3 and i8 electrics.

The X5 xDrive40e gets most of its power (240 hp, 260 lb-ft) from a 2.0-liter TwinPower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the rest comes from an electric motor integrated into the eight-speed transmission powered by a 9-kWh battery. Total system output is rated at 308 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. That’s good for a 0-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph. All-electric travel, up to 13 miles of it, is restricted to 75 mph max and preliminary EPA estimates are 55 MPGe.

Permanent all-wheel drive is standard. An electronically controlled multi-plate clutch distributes the torque between the front and rear wheels.

When started up, the xDrive40e defaults to Auto eDrive mode. That means both the engine and motor are working together in the most efficient way possible. Max eDrive switches the vehicle to all-electric, as long as there is enough juice. Save Battery builds up the battery for use at a later time, like when entering a city center or rolling into your home subdivision.

Like the rest of the lineup, the hybrid X5 comes with the Driving Dynamics Control switch, which changes the vehicle setup from comfort to sport or eco pro. Each has its own throttle mapping, steering characteristics and responses for the eight-speed Steptronic transmission.

The battery can be charged with a standard household outlet, though BMW prefers you use its own i Charging Station, which offers a full battery in about 2 hours, 45 minutes. We’ve enquired about charging on a standard outlet, we’ll update if we hear back. The status of the charge can be checked on the instrument panel and through an iPhone app. Buyers can also get the ChargeNow service and pay card, which grants access to the entire network of ChargePoint stations.

Active Cruise Control, BMW Head-Up Display, BMW Night Vision, Lane Active Blind Spot Detection, Parking Assistant, rear view camera, Surround View and Speed Limit Info are all available.

The new X5 will get a bunch of hybrid-specific instrumentation inside including a different tach, new readouts for range and charge, as well as how power is flowing to and from the battery. BMW Navigation Professional is standard and will pick the most efficient route to your destination automatically. Active Cruise Control, BMW Head-Up Display, BMW Night Vision, Lane Active Blind Spot Detection, Parking Assistant, rear view camera, Surround View and Speed Limit Info are all available. The xDrive40e can also be specified with the xLine, Luxury Line or M-Sport trim packages.

The 2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e will be built in Spartanburg along side the standard X5 and X6. We’ve emailed BMW reps for price, and will update when they get back to us.