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BMW’s New X5 Built to Carry Five Powertrains as iX5 Debuts with Largest Battery

A single, Spartanburg‑built G65 chassis uses an updated CLAR layout and an 800‑volt electrical system to stage the iX5 EV in 2027 and hydrogen models in 2028.

Overview

  • In mid‑June BMW moved the G65 X5 into final testing and released official teasers with confirmed technical details ahead of a late‑June public reveal.
  • The all‑electric iX5 60 xDrive was disclosed with BMW’s largest production battery at 144 kWh usable in the US (141 kWh in the EU), an 800‑volt architecture, and a dual‑motor output of 578 PS (425 kW).
  • BMW introduced a new unified control unit called Heart of Joy that merges drivetrain and chassis control into one processor and operates about ten times faster than the prior system.
  • Engineers rebuilt the rear suspension and kept identical front and rear mounting points so a single body can cope with roughly a 600 kg weight spread between petrol and electric variants while preserving trunk and ride geometry.
  • BMW will build all G65 X5s in Spartanburg with production slated for late summer or early fall 2026, the iX5 expected to reach customers in 2027, and other variants including a hydrogen fuel‑cell X5 planned for 2028, a rollout that could speed charging times and widen buyer choice.