Features and price of BMW Hydrogen iX5
The major automakers know that the future has arrived and are adapting their products accordingly.
BMW is not an exception to this rule, as the company has recently demonstrated through a series of launches and presentations carried out with hydrogen and electric models.
To be more specific, the latter will be discussed in the manner described in the following lines.
We at Motorbli thought it would be a good idea to devote an entry to the BMW Hydrogen iX5.
This vehicle was introduced not too long ago, specifically at the Munich Motor Show, and is categorized as a member of the coveted SUV family.
On the other hand, it is currently being used as a test model, and its commercialization will not arrive in principle until much later. Let’s take a look at what it has to offer, shall we?
The BMW Hydrogen iX5, under a magnifying glass
After this brief introduction, it is time to move on to the next step, which is to go over the characteristics of the BMW Hydrogen iX5, including its exterior design, the mechanical structure that supports it, the interior equipment that it hosts, the price at which it could be found on the market, and some models that could be considered their competitors.
1. Exterior design
The foundation of the iX5 is palpable, and for this vehicle’s confection, many enhancements and aesthetic modifications have been provided that certainly distinguish it from him.
For example, the inner edge of the kidney grille, characteristic of the Bavarian house models, is painted blue. This color can also be seen in the 22-inch wheels with aerodynamic inserts and elements of the outer area of the rear apron.
p Alterations have also been made to the front grille, which is now topped by a stylized letter I to represent the expanded market segment that this automobile is designed to compete in. since BMW calls electric (whether battery or hydrogen), air intakes and additional elements in the rear bumper, among which are a skirt, a diffuser undoubtedly similar to the iX3, and mesh inserts covering the air intakes. These additions can be found in the rear bumper.
All of these are made through a process known as digital 3D printing, which is just as impressive, if not more so, than the environmentally friendly production of the tires, which made use of natural rubber and rayon as their primary raw materials. It is also important to note that it takes some cues from the X5 M, specifically the front bumpers, as these are passed down to it.
2. Mechanical structure
The BMW Hydrogen iX5 is propelled by a hydrogen fuel cell system, which works in tandem with the fifth-generation iDrive electric system at maximum capacity. The hydrogen cell that it possesses can be found in the front portion of the structure. It generates 125 kW of power, equivalent to 170 horsepower, and the only “waste” it produces is water vapor. For its part, the BMW eDrive electric motor can produce 275 kW. (374 hp). To recoup lost kinetic energy, the latter frequently functions as a generator during the deceleration phase of the process.
Two hydrogen tanks constructed of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic each have a capacity of 6 kilograms and serve as the vehicle’s storage facilities. One can be found just below the rear seats, while the other can be found in the transmission tunnel of the X5. BMW has not provided the data on the vehicle’s autonomy as of yet; however, if the data of the BMW I Hydrogen NEXT are used as a reference, the range of the BMW I Hydrogen NEXT can be very close to 700 kilometers, with a refueling time of only four minutes at a hydrogen station.
The high-density battery is in charge of accumulating electricity, the engine’s final destination. It will be outfitted with the most cutting-edge technology the home has to offer, even though its capacity, recovery power, and the type of cells used are unknown.
3. Interior equipment
Images have not been provided from its interior, as those published only appear to be an overall shot of its technological components. What can be seen is a sizeable Head-Up Display that is aligned in a straight line with what the driver sees while they are driving, a steering wheel with a leather covering that tries to make the user’s touch pleasant, a central monitor that also impresses and can function as a navigator and support for the sound system, and a gearshift with that blue that is so characteristic that is located next to the driving mode selector.
In addition to this, there should be a sizable storage compartment that can be used to store items, as many as three air conditioning grills, and well-finished seats designed to provide the occupants with the highest level of comfort that is reasonably attainable.
4. The Price
A possible idea that BMW has derived from the gradual equalization in this regard between the prices of electric cars and hydrogen cars is that it will not go on sale for a few years, as was mentioned at the beginning of the text. This is because it is not expected to go to market until after a few years have passed. For instance, the base price of a Hyundai Nexo is approximately 72,850 euros. In comparison, the base price of a Toyota Mirai is 69,000 euros, and the most recent model from the French luxury brand Hopium, the Alpha 0, retails for 120,000 euros. Consequently, considering the ethos of BMW and the references above, it is entirely plausible that the price could approach 100,000 €.
5. Competitors with whom it might have to contend
After going over everything known about the BMW Hydrogen iX5, it is time to compare it with some of its competitors from other brands. This will inform us, incidentally, where the shots could go once the details that have not yet been made public comes to light.
Toyota Mirai
PreciselyToyota is proving to be an indispensable partner for the Germans as they work to develop the environmentally friendly technology they envision. Therefore, discussing the Toyota Mirai can serve as a roadmap for what the user can expect to find in the Hydrogen iX5 in the future.
However, its mechanical structure is distinct because it possesses three tanks, each arranged so that it appears they are forming the letter T. One of the tanks is very long and runs across the car. The other two are much shorter and are located just below the area where the seats and trunk are. The electric motor endowed with hydrogen contains approximately 182 horsepower and a maximum torque of 300 Nm. This is a lower amount of horsepower than in the protagonist’s case; therefore, this reference and BMW data suggest that it can exceed 400 Nm.
Even though its gearshift is located in a way that is not typical, with a slight inclination, the equipment appears to have a very similar layout at first glance. However, the gearshift is located in a way that is not typical. Its infotainment system is controlled by a 12.3-inch screen, which, judging by the images, appears to be very comparable in size to what is seen in the BMW. As a result, this is probably where the monitor will be located in the German automobile.
In the trunk, which is also constrained by the presence of the pair of hydrogen tanks that the Bavarian shares specifically, there is space for up to 321 liters of luggage and goods, meaning that it could also guide the latter.
Hyundai Nexo
The Hyundai Nexo is another example of the short list of references we have for the existence of hydrogen-powered cars currently on the market. The Korean automobile is an SUV that moves thanks to the 163-horsepower electric motor that equips and, in turn, is powered by a fuel cell that combines water and hydrogen. A combination of the two elements powers the fuel cell. As a result, it is at an immediate disadvantage compared to BMW in terms of power.
On the other hand, it has a hydrogen tank larger than its (3) and takes approximately five minutes to fill up. Interestingly, and in contrast to what takes place in the Mirai, this does not prevent it from enjoying a higher storage capacity in the trunk. Four hundred sixty-one liters can be accommodated in their breasts, and the battery is precisely located under it. Considering that its length is 4.61 meters, perhaps this can be understood.
Given that the autonomy they offer is equivalent to a distance of 666 kilometers, it is possible that they could compete more effectively in this regard. Its top speed is 179 kilometers per hour, and the acceleration from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour was measured at approximately 9.2 seconds. Guarismos that the BMW Hydrogen iX5 may be able to surpass in terms of its power in light of what has been seen in its performance.
There are a few critical distinctions within the cabin, beginning with the floating tunnel that divides the driver and co-driver seats. This is followed by many buttons supplemented by the digital console’s 12.3-inch screen, which is positioned in the middle of the cabin.
It does, however, share the commitment to sustainability that guides the production of some of its components, such as the vegan leather trim that was produced by the Korean company effect, the ecological fibers with cane sugar that were used for the roof linings and floor mats, and the ecological paint that was used for the central area.
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