More smarts and an improved performance from the plug-in hybrid drivetrain are among highlights.

IMPROVED energy capacity and electric involvement has come to BMW’s X5 and X5 in their hybrid forms, while all derivatives are achieving spec revisions, with some gadgets from the new i7 limo also implementing.

This, plus revised styling and upgraded interiors, comprise the span of 2023 year revisions coming to the sports activity models, announced overnight from Germany. There’s no signal, yet, on New Zealand availability but right-hand-drive production is said to start by April and third quarter availability for Australia has been confirmed.

The models achieve new, slimmer headlights and a new 'kidney' grille that lights up at night – if you chose. There’s an ‘off’ switch. There are also new bumpers with 'air breather' vents while the X5 gets new satin-aluminium finished roof rails.

At the back, there are lights with an 'X' motif, along with new bumpers and an aero pack. M Sport cars deliver with body kits and blacked-out chrome, while the range-topping M60i models, still with a 395kW petrol V8, get twin-bar grilles with special badging.

Customers for those editions can also choose from around 40 BMW Individual special paintwork shades, spanning metallic variants, solid and matt finishes which, BMW says, “are meticulously applied by hand."

The controls update with arrival of a curved-display dashboard layout, with two conjoined screens - a 12.3-inch instrument panel for the driver and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen in the middle. The software is the latest version 8.0 iDrive setup, allowing over-the-air software updates with the screens controlled not only by touch and the iDrive wheel but also by voice or steering wheel buttons.

The 'Sky Lounge' glass roof, which has LED lights built into it that can display “more than 15,000 graphic patterns and generate a display reminiscent of a starlit sky” is another i7 feature now in this line, as is a crystal-style light bar that’s generally part of the ambient lighting package but will flash certain emergency warnings. The drive selector and the iDrive control wheel are now also to the same look as those in the i7.

Sports-style front seats become standard and are heated, with cooling and massage functions optional. A heated steering wheel and heated rear seats can also apply.

The plug-in hybrid X5 xDrive50e achieves an upgraded 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine and improved battery performance. There's more power - a max 365kW using the boost mode, which is 71kW more than the old xDrive45e model - and maximum torque of 700Nm.

The engine itself now runs on the fuel-saving Miller Cycle, while the electric motor has had its power boosted to 150kW. Zero to 100kmh in just 4.8 seconds is cited.

The battery for the plug-in hybrid has had a 25 percent increase in energy capacity, now up to 25.7kWh (useable), which means BMW can now claim an electric range of 68km on the WLTP test. The battery can also now be charged faster, at up to 7.4kW, but it still goes without DC rapid-charging abilities.

It also has an  'active sounds' noise generator for electric mode, with sound effects created by Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer, and 'geo-fencing', which means it can automatically recognise when a destination is an urban area, and saves charge so that it can drive on zero-emissions power when going there.

Other petrol and diesel versions of the X5 and X6 now get 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance. The xDrive30d straight-six diesel now has 222kW and 670Nm.

All models come with an upgraded eight-speed automatic gearbox that includes launch control and a Sprint mode, enabling a quick burst of extra acceleration for safe overtakes.

There's also more of a rear-drive bias for the xDrive four-wheel-drive system and M60i models get a new rear differential. Adaptive suspension is standard for M Sport models and its among choices with an active anti-roll system. The air suspension standard to the X5 xDrive50e hybrid becomes an option on other models. It’ll raise the body up by 40mm for off-roading, or drop it by 40mm for loading.

Driver aides run to also park-by-phone, which allows you to nudge the X5 and X6 in and out of tight spaces from outside the car, as well as a memory function that automatically prompts you to let the car park itself when it comes to a pre-programmed location.