BMW's Next X5 M V8 Reportedly Packs 618 Horses - No Plug Required

Insiders suggest BMW’s upcoming G95 X5 M will deliver 460 kilowatts, or about 618 horsepower, from a mild-hybrid version of its S68 V8 engine. That power comes courtesy of a 48-volt starter-generator system, the same one found in the X5 M60i and X7 M60i, which adds a 9-kilowatt electric motor inside the transmission.

Unlike a plug-in hybrid, this setup is designed to smooth out turbo lag and refine stop-start behavior rather than deliver a big peak-power boost. BMW hasn’t officially confirmed the figure or even the model’s existence, so take this as an unverified report until the automaker speaks up.

For reference, the S68 currently makes 530 horsepower in the X5 M60i and X7 M60i, and 612 in the ALPINA XB7. In the XM, the V8 alone cranks out 483 horsepower before the plug-in hybrid system adds another motor, totaling 644 in the standard car and 748 in the Label Red. A reported 618 horsepower would put the X5 M’s tune above the ALPINA and close to XM territory, but without the extra weight and complexity of a plug-in setup.

There’s a catch, though: European emissions rules could trim that number. BMW has already confirmed Euro 7 compliance is costing the S68 about 40 horsepower in the M5, and the same could happen to the X5 M in European markets. S. models are expected to dodge that hit.

BMW is taking a two-pronged approach with this generation of high-performance M cars. The gas-powered X5 M will stick with a mild-hybrid V8 for traditionalists, while a fully electric version is in the works for those ready to go all-in. The electric iX5 M70 xDrive M Performance variant, due in September 2027, is expected to make at least 650 horsepower.

The full M electric version should land somewhere between 800 and 900 horsepower, well short of the 1,000-horsepower mark BMW has yet to use on any production model. That electric model is slated to use a quad-motor layout tied to the ZA0 electric M3 program and begin production in April 2028 at BMW’s Spartanburg plant, about a year after the gas version rolls out.