At the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show, BMW unveiled their first X5 hybrid SAV. Dubbed BMW X5 eDrive, the hybrid concept will go into production in 2014 and will be sold under the BMW X5 xDrive40e name.
The plugin hybrid will featured a four-cylinder petrol engine with turbocharging technology which generates, along with an electric motor, an output of 200 kW (272 hp). The standard sprint to 100 km/h is achieved by the BMW X5 xDrive40e in less than 7.0 seconds. Up to 120 km/h of pure electric drive is possible thanks to the 70 kW electric motor.
Visually, the plugin hybrid differs from the “regular X5” mainly through an additional opening at the front left fender where the engineers placed a power connector for charging the high-voltage battery, which is housed in the rear of the vehicle.
The stored energy is sufficient for approximately 30 km electric range and contributes significantly to the low fuel consumption of 3.8 liters per 100 kilometers.
To manage battery capacity BMW has created three drive modes for the X5 eDrive, Intelligent Hybrid, Pure Electric, and Save Battery. It is the Save Battery mode that highlights how BMW expects the vehicle to be used. Going into Save Battery mode restricts the use of battery capacity – allowing for a reserve to complete a journey in pure electric mode inside a city core for example.
Here is a photo gallery from Frankfurt Auto Show:
[Source: Bimmertoday]
