BMW Introduces the Concept X5 eDrive

As you might be able to decipher from the vehicle name, the Concept X5 eDrive is a plug-in hybrid version of the redesigned 2014 X5. Thinly veiled as a concept, the Concept X5 eDrive is almost sure to go into production as a environmentally-friendly luxury SUV (or SAV in BMW's language).

The big news with the Concept X5 eDrive [what a mouthful!] is its powertrain. There's a conventional turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder engine, and a 95-horsepower electric motor powering the wheels. The combination allows for a zero to 60 acceleration time of under 7 seconds. Driving on electricity alone, you can go 19 miles on a full battery charge and up to 75 miles per hour without wakening the gasoline engine. In slippery conditions, you can drive without worry as BMW's xDrive permanent all-wheel-drive system is there to get you moving.

BMW points out a 74.3 miles per gallon (or up to 74 MPG, or 62 MPG, or 75 MPG, depending on your source) fuel economy rating on the European test cycle. The Concept X5 eDrive has 3 driving modes to let the driver control their fuel usage, which are Intelligent Hybrid Drive, Pure Electric, and Save Battery (or Safe Battery, again depending on your source). Intelligent Hybrid Drive leaves everything to the computer, Pure Electric operates only on electricity, and Save [Safe] Battery saves the battery's charge for later use. For more efficiency, BMW has developed the Proactive Driving Assistant, which can can communicate with the navigation system to select the most fuel-efficient route, among other things.

On the outside, there is a liberal use of blue accent pieces borrowed from BMW's i brand. The roof rails have been tweaked for aerodynamic efficiency, and the 21-inch wheels are also shaped for aerodynamic efficiency [though, if you ask me, smaller wheels would be even more effective for fuel efficiency].

The Concept X5 eDrive will debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.

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