Geneva 2019: BMW Announces X3 Plug-in Hybrid, Fully Electric From 2020

At the ongoing Geneva Motor Show 2019, BMW has just announced the newest addition to their globally popular plug-in hybrid range of premium vehicles.

Due to only enter production in December 2019, the new BMW X3 xDrive30e will continue to use the proven petrol-electric powertrain that consists of a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with a 30 kW / 41 hp electric motor.

The combined system output for the X3 xDrive30e is 252 hp, similar to outputs found in the upcoming G20 BMW 330e and the current BMW 530e. BMW estimates the SUV will take just 6.5 seconds to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h.

Thanks to the introduction of the latest lithium-ion battery cell technology, the X3 xDrive30e should have an all-electric range of 50 kilometres.

BMW also announced that the BMW 225xe Active Tourer and BMW 530e will also benefit from the new lithium-ion battery cell technology. The new battery pack offers more capacity within the same dimensions.

The all-electric range for the compact hatchback has been increased by 25 percent to 57 kilometres, while the 530e sees an extended range of up to 64 kilometres, a good 16 kilometres further.

Joining the new BMW X3 xDrive30e at the BMW stand at the Geneva Motor Show 2019 is the facelifted BMW 7 Series that feature a more powerful plug-in hybrid system.

Named 745e, the new hybrid system has replaced the small 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a larger 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine. Total system output in the BMW 745e is a whopping 394 hp, up from 322 hp in the pre-facelift 740e model.

Through this extensive range of plug-in hybrid models, BMW aims to have over half a million vehicles with electrified drive systems on the road by the end of the year. Come 2020, BMW will introduce a fully-electric BMW X3, competing with Mercedes-Benz that has planned to make the EQC commercially available at the same timing.

Last year, BMW delivered over 140,000 units of various models equipped with the plug-in hybrid technology across the globe. In Malaysia, BMW Malaysia has quite a healthy lead in sales of plug-in hybrid models, with over 7,200 units sold last year.