Gen five line-up starts rolling out locally in ICE around October, with full battery edition in 2027.

SIX-cylinder turbodiesel with 48 volt assist and a plug-in hybrid petrol this year, with a first-ever fully electric edition set to deliver more than 800 kilometres’ driving some time in 2027.

That’s the product plan outlined by BMW here in respect to the new X5, unveiled internationally overnight.

Unsurprisingly very close to the iX3 in respect its styling - but with the added embellishment of double sets of x-shaped lights - the fifth generation model will also sport internationally in full petrol, diesel and even hydrogen fuel-cell versions, but none are being talked about for here.

It seems New Zealand is being bundled with Australia for a regional strategy that, ultimately, will be put greatest focus on the first ever electric edition.

The battery-wed car is badged - of course - the iX5 and is patently the most significant model in the range from a technology point of view.

Pricing and exact local market specifications have not been shared, but with all editions to continue to come from BMW’s factory in Spartanburg, the United States, on obvious influence on the stickers could be Trump tariffs.

The current cars range from $17,400 through to $249,400 for an X5 M.

Insofar as the electric plan goes, NZ is down for the iX5 eDrive 60.

It’s the only version Germany is talking about for now, though other battery-pure versions are clearly also planned.

This uses BMW's sixth-generation 'eDrive' technology, with an electric motor on each axle for all-wheel drive, and has up to 431kW, with 805Nm of torque.

The official WLTP range between charges is quoted by Munich at 645-845km, depending on specification. BMW regionally is suggesting the latter will be credible.

Oddly, then, it relies on a WLTP figure for the electric pure range of the plug-in hybrid.

The iX5 battery has net energy content of 141kWh and it uses an 800-volt electrical architecture.

That allows for up to 460kW charging on suitably powerful DC outlets, with a theoretical 10-80 percent DC charging time of 23 minutes. Up to 22kW will be possible on certain three-phase AC chargers.

Though weighing in at 2825kgs, the iX5 is said to be spritely, with a 0-100kmh time of 4.6 seconds cited.

The diesel X5 is the 40d xDrive, which uses a six-cylinder in-line engine and 48-volt mild-hybrid system. BMW quotes 233kW, 670Nm and a 0-100kmh in 6.1 seconds.

The plug-in hybrid en route badges as the X5 50e xDrive. It combines a six-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor for 364kW and 700Nm.

Its official electric range is 86-102km, with 11kW three-phase AC charging and a 0-100kmh time of 5.0 seconds.

Also in mains-replenished hybrid, but apparently not on local books, is the X5 M60e xDrive, a so-called M Performance car, putting out 456kW and 800Nm. It has an official electric range of 81-98km and accelerates from 0-100kmh in 4.5 seconds.

Those head light are set to generate lots of discussion. The design encompass the low-beam headlights, daytime running lights, side lights and indicators in a single visual element.

The overall design is described by BMW as being more monolithic, with less adornment and a more vertical front than before. The X5's door handles are different, in that they take the form of aerodynamic 'Winglets' at the same level as the side glass.

At the rear, the X5 uses slim LED lights stretching across much of the tailgate to emphasise the car's width. Again, they’re similar to what's on the iX3. M Sport and M Sport Pro will be the trim levels.

There's no mention of the seven-seat layout of old, so assumption is that it’s gone back to being a pure five chair car, with generous space in the cabin and the boot, though the capacity of the latter varies depending on the model.

The iX5 and the diesel accommodate up to 655 litres with all seats in use whereas the plug-in hybrid can accept 525 litres.

New to X5 are automatic doors, which electrically open at the smallest touch of the winglets. Ir even before. When using Digital Key Plus the owner can set the car up so their door opens automatically as they approach.

An option allows the doors to close when the driver puts a foot on the brake pedal. Soft Close doors is included across the range. Also standard is the panoramic glass roof with an opening section and '2.5-zone' climate control. The BMW iX5 has a heat pump.

The control layout is, of course all by screen. The core system is BMW Panoramic iDrive, running BMW Operating System X with the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant using extended AI technology.

As per the iX3 and forthcoming i3, the set-up includes Panoramic Vision (a strip running across the full base of the windscreen), along with a 3D head-up display, a 17.9-inch touchscreen and an optional passenger-side touchscreen.

The X5 will also be offered with BMW Symbiotic Drive, which is designed to provide assistance matched to the driver's behaviour. The optional Parking Assistant Professional system can include remote-control functions via the My BMW app.

In relating the popularity of X5 in New Zealand, BMW regionally suggested more than 80,000 examples are here. It rolled this back when questioned, saying that count was actually relevant to Australia.