BMW’s Hydrogen X5 Is Now Closer Than Ever

BMW isn’t ready to unveil the long-awaited iX5 Hydrogen yet, but it’s done the next best thing: showing it during testing, without camouflage, and dropping some key new details. Predictably, this will not be a volume seller like other X5 models, but that doesn’t make it any less important.

The iX5 Hydrogen’s design is interesting because it looks largely identical to the combustion and all-electric models. Clearly, BMW didn’t feel the need to make this model look different, recognizing buyers’ demand for ZEVs to look like regular vehicles.

Read: BMW’s 2028 iX5 M Has No Engine, But It Might Embarrass The One That Does

This means there aren’t any funky bumpers, grilles, or wheels, but rather an SUV that looks just as refined and polished as any other Neue Klasse model from BMW. Ignore the blue ‘BMW Hydrogen’ livery on this prototype, and this is exactly how the model sold to customers will look. It’s certainly not beautiful, but it is bold.

Quick And Efficient

BMW says its current testing regime focuses on perfecting how the fuel cell system, high-voltage battery, and electric motor interact. The model is targeting a driving range of up to 466 miles (750 km), and it’ll also match a comparable electric iX5, capable of hitting 62 mph (100 km/h) in under five seconds. Filling up the iX5 will take less than five minutes.

The SUV’s third-generation fuel cell system is testing its latest prototype phase before the SUV is finalized for series production at the BMW Group Plant Steyr facility.

“Our ambition for the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is clear: a true BMW – with Sheer Driving Pleasure,” BMW Group head of hydrogen vehicles Josef Hochreiter said. “A perfectly coordinated overall system is crucial for this. Current testing demonstrates how the fuel cell system, high-voltage battery and electric drive train are already successfully integrated and how systematically we are developing the technology towards series production.”