[Tushar]

BMW has officially unveiled the production version plug-in hybrid X5. Named the X5 xDrive 40e, the SUV is the first non BMW "i" production plug-in hybrid vehicle from the German automakers' stable.

The xDrive 40e is powered a BMW TwinPower turbo, 4-cylinder, petrol engine that produces 242 BHP @ 5,000-6,500 rpm and 350 Nm of torque from 1,250-4,800 rpm. The synchronous electric motor integrated into the 8-speed steptronic transmission produces 111 BHP @ 3,170 rpm and 250 Nm of torque. When working together, the best output the petrol engine and electric motor can manage is around 308 BHP and 450 Nm of torque. 0-100 km/h comes up in a claimed 6.8 seconds with the top speed limited to 210 km/h. The power is transmitted to all 4 wheels through the permanent all-wheel drive system.

A lithium-ion high-voltage battery with 96 cells and a capacity of 9.0 kWh - located underneath the luggage compartment floor powers the electric motor. On e-power alone, the X5 xDrive 40e can manage a range of around 31 kms and a top speed of 120 km/h.

The available feature list on the plug-in hybrid SUV includes navigation, cruise control with braking and the driving assistant, collision warning with braking, traffic jam assistant, a head-up display and BMW's night vision system with pedestrian and animal recognition among others.

The BMW X5 xDrive40e is being produced at the brand's Spartanburg plant in the South Carolina, USA.