BMW ->ke178 revealed the concept X5 eDrive today ahead of its public debut at next month's Frankfurt Auto Show->ke235. This BMW->ke178-developed plug-in hybrid powertrain looks quite promising: it maintains the xDrive AWD system's torque split ability to all four wheels even when running in hybrid or full electric mode.

Cabin space is said to be only marginally trimmed from the advanced Li-ion battery pack under the rear cargo tray area - but the real headline is a sprint time that is still under 7 seconds and an all-electric cruising range of 19 miles at speeds up to 75 mph.

This BMW ->ke178 eDrive concept->ke169 is the second time a plug-in hybrid has emerged from Munich -- the first being 2012's Active Tourer -- a front-drive MPV heading for launch in a few years.

Of course, BMW's i brand->ke3915 also has some striking electrified models waiting in the wings with the i8 and i3 - both of which are scheduled for big launch news during the company's Frankfurt press conferences.

The concept X5->ke326 eDrive tests the mood for a future plug-in hybrid luxury SUV, but brings numerous technological advancements so far unseen from the smash-hit Lexus RX450h and supercharged seven-seat 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid. As currently planned, the X5 eDrive will lag behind the main models to market by about a year - for a projected late fall 2014 arrival in American showrooms.

Click past the jump to read the full preview of the 2013 BMW Concept X5 eDrive and check out the image gallery of the full i8-style makeover of this popular luxury crossover.

2013 BMW X5 eDrive Concept

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 BMW X5 eDrive Concept
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 240
  • Torque: 369
  • Transmission: 8-Speed Auto
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The looks of the X5 eDrive concept are quite masculine and performance-focused, in contrast to the most likely buyers of fuel-sipping family cars. More of the original X5's broad stance is visible in these press images, showing off the shrouded and super-aerodynamic 21-inch wheels front and rear. The spiffy performance tires and wheel setup is quite unusual for an economy-focused model of any kind, but they certainly help the X5 eDrive look cooler and even more unique than the previous X5 M.

The X5 eDrive mirrors some of the more interesting elements of the BMW i range, including the blue-tinted chrome accents to the grille bar and blue accent lines in the lower bumpers. A blue-trimmed charge port door is prominently mounted on the front fender - looking quite nice with the fender vent of this concept.

Some layered sculpting appears in the eDrive's lower bumper in a dark brushed-metal finish that is a clear i8 styling nod. The front bumper is far smoother toward its bottom edges than the standard X5, while additional underbody panels divert air around the tires and high-drag items like a car's exposed exhaust tubing.

Front straight ahead, the latest BMW eDrive's styling is very similar to the standard X5 that is all-new for 2014. Large and more square and three-dimensional kidney grilles are becoming a BMW SAV staple versus the lower and rounder bumper-mounted kidney grilles on cars like the latest 750i and X1 M Sport. The headlight assemblies are also oversized and dominate the nose appearance with chopped internal white LED lighting optics.

Out back, the X5 eDrive mirrors the planted stance of the X5 M via those visibly enormous tires and a clean tailgate design. A blue brightwork element joins the two flush-mounted bumper exhaust vents in a relatively garish way - but at least the eDrive badge is small and subtle.

Interior

No details yet from BMW on the interior revamp for the plug-in hybrid eDrive technology, aside from the potential drive modes and the very-effective ECO Pro mode. Along with this efficiency-focused engine management system, the eDrive ECO Pro mode also considers variables like road speed, traffic conditions, topographical map features where car could plan to coast downhill, and more. Operated via the Drive Experience Selector, X5 eDrive owners can also select an all-electric mode at the push of a button.

A safe battery mode keeps with the idea that many city centers will block internal-conbustion engines altogether in the future - a likely scenario already in Europe's disgustingly dirty and diesel-smelling capitols. Ick.

While BMW notes that the Li-ion battery pack does not consume much of the X5's potential luggage capacity or any seating comfort in the first two rows - there is no mention of a seven-seat option for the eDrive like on the other new 2014 BMW X5 models. This is a big downside and also one suffered by the less-advanced - but available now - Lexus RX450h.

Performance

Performance and economy figures look impressive for the X5 eDrive, despite running just the small 2.0-liter turbocharged engine as the primary propulsion.

This single-turbo engine is actually a brute, with deceptively large power reserves. This is good, as it is the base American-market engine in everything below the previous X5 and 7 Series.

In the X1 with xDrive28i (AWD) selected, this potent little unit even overboosts to an astounding 369 pound-feet of torque when needed -- more than 100 extra over the standard rear-drive power outputs. The reasons this is important is that the larger-torque 2.0-liter powers this massive and heavy X5. Even with an estimated 300 pounds of additional battery and electric component weight, BMW promises a sub-7-second sprint to 60 mph.

This is no doubt quickened by a fully charged battery. As seen on other plug-in hybrid cars like the Ford Fusion Energi -- performance takes a nosedive if the battery is empty from lack of wall charging.

The biggest technological achievements come from the X5 eDrive maintaining its AWD capability even in hybrid and EV modes. Unlike the Lexus, which powers the rear wheels only briefly with EV juice when accelerating or on a slippery surface, the X5 will be able to operate with the standard torque split and dynamic traction control.

A single BMW-developed electric motor provides propulsion with an extra 95 horsepower, delivering a projected 75 mpg on the European combined cycle. This is about 50 mpg by the EPA's numbers -- much higher as the plug-in 'MPGe' economy tally.

Intriguingly, this generation of X5 will be the first to offer basic rear-drive on some of the more eco-focused models like the miserly diesel-powered versions that take 90-plus percent of European sales.

Pricing

Pricing is not yet available from BMW, but the eDrive will likely be priced at the same level as the base X5 xDrive35i - with the extra mileage and EV features offered instead of the 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinders spirited performance and smooth-revving character.

Competition

Lexus RX450h

The Lexus RX450h owns the hybrid crossover segment and has since it was the first hybrid crossover to market nearly a decade ago. A five-seater, the RX is handicapped by its strange appearance lately and stagnating technology. Still a front-drive V-6 with NiMh batteries, the RX is much more like a leather-wrapped Prius crossover than the X5, which is still a market powerhouse in terms of delivering amazing sports-car performance in an SUV.

A plug-in version of the next RX is virtually a sure thing in 2015 or early 2016.

Conclusion

The plug-ins are coming, the plug-ins are coming! Like Paul Revere and his brass alarm bell, the full-fledged investment by BMW toward hybrid and EV models is picking up speed.

This X5 eDrive finally shows some rationality and buyer needs taking precedence of automaker's self-interest in lowering total fleet consumption.

After all, the smallest cars out there are the last ones that really need hybrid assistance, but because of how Corporate Average Fuel Economy and its Euro CO2 equivalent shape government policy, some automakers have been cheating a bit.

With the X5 eDrive, family owners can easily see double the fuel economy of the base X5 - without any drawbacks like a CVT front-drive bias or lack of true all-weather EV ability.

The real question will be how tacky BMW decides to make the production models. A blue-edged theme looks much more appropriate on a dedicated eco model than it does on this performance crossover king. Hopefully the shrouded wheel designs make it to market intact - hopefully with tire that are closer to the X5 M than the pizza-cutters on the i3.