The electric BMW iX5 is undergoing final tuning drives around the German firm’s US plant in Spartanburg, ahead of a touted late 2026 or early 2027 debut date.
Known internally as the G65, this fifth generation of the X5 will mark the first time that BMW’s groundbreaking SUV has been offered with an electric-only powertrain. Dubbed the iX5, it packs a 141kWh battery – the largest, high-voltage battery ever fitted to a fully-electric BMW.
BMW has yet to fully disclose the electric iX5’s range, performance figures, and other technical information. However, we do know that it will tip the scales at almost three tonnes (2,950 kilograms) and the all-wheel-drive BMW iX5 60 xDrive, the first model to launch, will be powered by a 560bhp motor setup.
Unlike BMW’s latest run of electric BMWs, the highly-regarded ‘Neue Klasse’ i3 and iX3, the iX5 doesn’t ride on dedicated EV-only architecture. Instead, it runs on the CLAR (Cluster Architecture) platform, which also underpins the new i7.
This means the X5 can be powered by five different drivetrains ranging from pure internal combustion to hybrids (plug-in and mild) and hydrogen fuel cell. Nonetheless, CLAR still has an 800V capacity and will incorporate components from the Neue Klasse cars, including the Heart of Joy central control unit (CCU).
Developed solely for its all-electric models, BMW’s latest CCU brings together drivetrain, braking, and stability functions into a single system to provide a more traditional BMW driving experience, despite the additional weight that’s usually associated with EVs.
When it arrives, the BMW iX5’s main electric SUV competitors will include the Volvo EX90, the Genesis GV80, plus the upcoming Range Rover Electric and the Porsche Cayenne Electric.
The Spartanburg factory opened in 1994 and will be responsible for building the iX5. It will also manufacture the iX7, BMW’s three-row flagship SUV, touted for a similar debut period.
