Meet the X5 that uses as little as 3.3L/100km of petrol. The era of plug-in hybrid BMWs starts today.

• Plug-in version of the X5 consumes as little as 3.3L/100km
• All-electric range of 31km possible
• 0 to 100km/h in 6.8 seconds
• Should qualify for $30,000 CEVS rebate
• View our gallery of pics
• Download a press kit below

SINGAPORE – Here it is, the X5 xDrive40e, the first fruit of BMW’s plans to install plug-in drive to all of its main models. It pairs a 2.0-litre turbo engine (a petrol one) with an electric motor to deliver a combined fuel consumption rating of 3.3 to 3.4 litres per 100km.

CO₂ emissions are correspondingly low, at 77 to 78 grammes per kilometere. That’s clean enough to qualify it for a full $30,000 tax rebate under the new CEVS bandings that kick in this July.

Because it’s a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), the X5 xDrive40e is best used if you can find somewhere to charge it regularly – still an open question in Singapore – either through a BMW-supplied Wallbox charger, or in countries where it’s allowed, a regular wall outlet.

On a full charge, the BMW can actually cover 31km (about 60 percent of the typical Singapore car’s daily mileage) in the all-electic Max eDrive mode. Driven that way, it’ll even hit 120km/h, enough to cruise the ECP, overtake some dawdlers, and then some.

In the regular petrol-electric Auto eDrive setting, the X5 gets along on a system output of 331 horsepower. The electric motor can provide a 250Nm kick of torque instantly, which helps the X5 to 100km/h in just 6.8 seconds. That’s quick; remember, it’s a large, 2,230kg car with only a 2.0-litre engine.

The motor resides within the 8-speed auto’s housing, while the lithium-ion batteries live under the boot floor.

That means the X5 loses its seven seater abilities, but the rear seats can still be folded to form a flat cargo area, taking boot space from 500 to 1,720 litres.

Naturally there won’t be prices for Singapore until the car gets here, but the “xDrive40e” name gives a clue: it will probably be priced between the X5 xDrive35i (which lists for $355,800 with COE at the moment) and the XDrive50i ($474,800), before the $30,000 CEVS rebate.

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Reps from BMW Asia say the plug-in X5 will be on sale in Singapore in “early 2006”. BMW is banking heavily on a future filled with PHEV tech. Engineers have told us that there will be an eDrive (that is, plug-in) version of every mainstream BMW model.

We’ve driven a prototype of a plug-in 3 Series, and BMW is expected to show off an all-new 7 Series with a plug-in option at September’s Frankfurt motor show.

Though BMW already has a plug-in hybrid on sale in the form of the i8, in some ways the brand will be playing catch up in the PHEV market here; Porsche has plug-in versions of the Cayenne and Panamera on sale in Singapore (although neither has found much sales success) and Mitsubishi intends to sell a PHEV version of its Outlander this year.

There’s still the question of charging station availability in Singapore, but regardless of that the X5 xDrive40e’s unveiling means the era of plug-in BMWs officially gets underway today. It would be a shame if our infrastructure were stuck in yesterday.

Download a press kit of the X5 xDrive40e here!

Check out a gallery of pics below.