Do you remember the X5 eDrive Concept unveiled earlier this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show->ke235? Back then, BMW->ke178 said that it was just a design exercise, with no production plans for at least a few years. Today, however, our spy photographers caught a rather strange BMW X5 prototype testing.
What makes the X5 so weird is that it dons a "Hybrid Test Vehicle" logo on the front door and the same charging slot placed up front as the concept version. Other than that, we have no idea about what hybrid system the production version will use, but we expect to be something similar to the concept.
The concept was powered by turbocharged four-cylinder engine combined with a 95-horsepower electric motor that took its powered from an advanced Li-ion battery pack under the rear cargo tray area. This system netted the X5 a 0-to-60 mph sprint time of less than seven seconds. On electric drive the concept offered an autonomy of 19 miles, while the combined hybrid system delivered a fuel economy of about 3.8 liters per 100 kilometers (61.9 mpg).
Expect the BMW X5 Hybrid eDrive to arrive sometime in late 2014.
Click past the jump to read more about the BMW X5 Plugin Hybrid eDrive.
2015 BMW X5 Plugin Hybrid eDrive
- Make: Array
- Model: 2015 BMW X5 Plugin Hybrid eDrive
- [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Spy Shots
December 23, 2013 - First Sighting
The prototype caught testing today by our spy photographers looks pretty much identical to the new-generation X5 unveiled earlier this year. The only distinguishing mark is the "Hybrid Test Vehicle" logo on the front door and the charging slot up front, just like on the concept version.
Competitors
BMW is one of the first automakers to offer a hybrid system for a large SUV, but it surely won't be the only one. Audi also announced that the next-generation Q7 SUV set to arrive in 2015 will also offer a hybrid version. No details were released just yet, but considering the next Q7 will also be a little bit lighter, a hybrid system will make it even more efficient.
Considering that the current-generation Cayenne already offers a hybrid version, we expect the same for the next one set to arrive sometime in 2014.
No details were released on the next-gen hybrid system, but we expect it to be similar to the one used in the current version: it combines a 3.0-liter, V-6 supercharged engine with an output of 333 horsepower with an electric motor that adds another 47 horsepower. This system ensures a sprint from 0 to 60 mph of just 6.1 seconds.