BMW’s iconic Sports Activity Vehicle, the X5, gets a new powertrain offering in the Philippines in the form of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant. For P6,990,000, the X5 xDrive50e M Sport combines the best of both worlds in terms of performance and electrification.
Lots of traditional oomph under the hood
It has the legendary 3.0-liter turbocharged petrol straight-six–the B58–paired with an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission plus an electric motor, meaning you get a monstrous combined output of 489 hp and 700 Nm of torque being sent to the xDrive all-wheel drive system. Plus, an adaptive two-axle air suspension can improve both handling and comfort, depending on the situation.
The result of all this power? The 0 to 100 km/h sprint is done in 4.8 seconds, and it has a top speed of 250 km/h.
It also can be a silent EV when you need it to
But if you want to frugally and silently jaunt around town, it can do that just as well. Thanks to a 25.7 kWh lithium-ion battery, the X5 PHEV can run on all electric power for up to 118 km before it has to be recharged, which can be done via the engine should you run out of charge on the road, or through the Type 2 port on the front left fender at a rate of 7.4 kW.
The M Sport appearance package is fitting for the power it packs
Other niceties that come with this new variant include the M Sport package with aggressive-looking bumpers front and back, the “Iconic Glow kidney grille”, 21-inch M Light Alloy wheels on run-flat tires, and several available colors such as M Carbon Black Metallic, M Brooklyn Grey Metallic, Manhattan Metallic, Skyscraper Grey Metallic, Alpine White, and Mineral White Metallic.
A properly appointed cabin worthy of its price tag
The interior utilizes luxurious materials such as soft-touch leather-like surfaces, wood trim paneling, ambient lighting, and Sensafin upholstery on the sport seats.
It is well-equipped in terms of tech with the BMW Widescreen Display (a combination of a 12.3-inch driver’s display and 14.9-inch touchscreen) running Operating System 8.5, an 18-speaker Harman Kardon Surround system, and an enhanced suite of advanced driver assistance systems including Parking Assistant Professional, which allows for remote automated parking over a distance of up to 200 meters from the My BMW App.
A comprehensive suite of technology and luxuries come standard
Other benefits include the BMW ConnectedDrive services. It enables you to use your phone to lock and unlock your car, monitor the vehicle status and charge levels, and more. And because of Executive Order No. 12 and the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, you can use this car any day of the week.
BMW Philippines now has a powertrain offering for every customer with the introduction of its PHEVs
The X5 xDrive50e will come with a portable charger, a five-year or 200,000 km (whichever comes first) comprehensive BMW warranty for the car, and an eight-year or 120,000 km warranty for the electric battery. Expect SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp, the official distributor of BMW in the Philippines, to introduce more PHEVs down the line as it further diversifies its lineup.