BMW's Electric iX5 Hits US Roads Ahead of Launch, Bringing the New 'Double-X' Face

BMW’s first fully electric X5 has been caught on camera testing in public, offering an early look at the striking lighting design that will define the brand’s next wave of SUVs. The all-electric iX5, along with its combustion-powered X5 sibling, introduces a new signature that BMW calls the “Double-X” — a setup that merges low beams, daytime running lights, side markers and turn signals into a single, unmissable unit.

For buyers who prefer something more restrained, BMW notes the Double-X icons can be switched off, leaving simpler diagonal light strips in their place. The spotted prototype was a pre-production 2027 iX5, and it appears just as BMW opened European order books this week. American customers will have to wait a little longer, with a US market launch planned for early 2027.

Underneath the new sheetmetal sits BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive system paired with an 800-volt architecture, the same foundation used by the recently revealed iX3 and i3. In Europe, the iX5 60 xDrive carries a 141 kWh pack — the largest battery BMW has fitted to an EV so far — good for up to 525 miles (750 km) on the WLTP cycle. US-spec models get a slightly larger 144 kWh battery, and while EPA figures are not yet finalized, BMW is targeting roughly 435 miles of range.

Charging is equally ambitious. With DC fast charging at up to 460 kW, the pack can go from 10% to 80% in about 23 minutes, and bidirectional capability lets owners power external gear such as camping equipment or an e-bike. A dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup delivers a combined 578 hp (425 kW) and 593 lb-ft of torque, which BMW says is enough for a 0-60 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds.

The fifth-generation X5 range is unusually broad, spanning gasoline, diesel, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen and — for the first time — a battery-electric variant, all wearing the brand’s Neue Klasse design language while keeping traditional SUV proportions. Notably, the iX5 will be the first all-electric BMW built in the United States, with production slated to begin at Plant Spartanburg before the end of the year. German pricing for the iX5 60 xDrive starts at 102,800 euros (about $115,000), while the US version will enter the market at $79,800, before a $1,450 destination charge.