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The Latest BMW Hybrid Concept

Topics: BMW X5

The Latest BMW Hybrid Concept

Geoff Maxted
DriveWrite
August 23, 2013

BMW will unveil the X5 plug-in hybrid concept next month at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Concept X5 eDrive is the second hybrid e-drive model from BMW after the Concept Active Tourer unveiled last year, but the first to use the manufacturer’s all-wheel-drive xDrive system.

The X5 eDrive uses a four-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower turbo technology coupled to a 95hp electric motor. The company says that the hybrid is able to travel up to 19 miles on electric power alone, reaching speeds of up to 75mph.

The high-voltage battery is hidden in a crash-safe position just under the load area in the back of the SUV, BMW says. The vehicle offers a choice of three driving modes: an intelligent hybrid drive option for a balance between sportiness and efficiency, a pure-electric mode, or an economy "save battery" mode which will maintain the current battery charge level.

BMW says that the BMW Concept X5 eDrive is able to achieve fuel efficiency of 74.3mpg in the EU cycle.

Unlike the i3 and i8 electric vehicles from BMW's 'i' sub-brand, the Concept X5 eDrive doesn't feature ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre and aluminium in its construction. However, some styling features connect it to the sub-brand, such as the use of the special blue paint developed for the 'i' family which is used on the grille, a stripe along the lower air intake and an inlay in the rear bumper.

BMW has not said whether the concept will reach production, but in a statement it said it would use the Frankfurt show ''to present the next logical step towards landmark efficiency in the sports activity vehicle (SAV) segment.'' With the trend very much being towards hybrid technology let' look forward to seeing these vehicles on the forecourts.