The BMW X5 will soon have the most diverse range of powertrains in its history, with the German automaker confirming the next generation of the popular SUV will offer hydrogen power from 2028.
Buyers will therefore be able to choose between petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, electric, and hydrogen powertrains, the latter two bearing the iX5 name, allowing the luxury SUV to better cater to a wide range of buyers and markets globally.
Cities like Los Angeles and Tokyo already have hydrogen refuelling stations available, while capital cities such as Seoul in South Korea are actively investing in hydrogen infrastructure.
Whereas the iX5 uses hydrogen fuel-cells – converting the fuel to electricity to power electric motors – the company began exploring uses for this technology in combination with internal-combustion engines back in the 1980s.
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In 2004, BMW announced it was building 100 examples of the Hydrogen 7 – based on the flagship E65 760Li limousine of the time – with hydrogen powering the car’s 6.0-litre V12 engine directly.
Despite the iX5 Hydrogen being the first mass-produced model available to the public, BMW began trialling the technology globally with a pilot fleet of the outgoing X5 in recent years.
The iX5 Hydrogen features a third-generation fuel cell system BMW is developing in collaboration with Toyota.
While those keen on the iX5 Hydrogen will have to wait until 2028 for the model’s release, a company insider – known by his Bimmerpost forum username ‘ynguldyn’ – claims the new X5 lineup will enter production in August 2026, with production planned until 2035.
Not counting the high-performance X5M, the range is expected to include the X5 40, 40 xDrive, 40d xDrive, 50e xDrive, M60 xDrive, M60e xDrive, as well as the iX5 50 xDrive, 60 xDrive, M70 xDrive, and iX5 Hydrogen – though only a handful of these variants will be available through Australian showrooms.
“By launching the new BMW X5 with a choice of five drive system variants, we are once again demonstrating our leading position as a technology pioneer,” BMW board member Joachim Post said at a recent event.
“Hydrogen has an essential part to play in global decarbonisation, which is why we are committed to driving the technology forward.”