TURIN – BMW is looking to draw attention to its new hybrid-electric vehicles at the Frankfurt auto show next month.
Of particular interest will be the German luxury maker’s next-generation X5 cross/utility vehicle in technology-concept form.
The BMW Concept X5 eDrive sprints to 61 mph (100 km/h) in under 7.0 seconds, very close to the 6.8 seconds clocked by the xDrive 35i.
Under the hood, the Concept X5 eDrive does away with the 6- and 8-cyl. powerplants in favor of an all-new 4-cyl. engine featuring BMW’s TwinPower Turbo technology that is mated to an electric motor developed and built within the BMW Group.
The 95-hp electric motor draws energy from a high-voltage lithium-ion battery mounted in a crash-safe position underneath the load area. The battery can be charged from any domestic power outlet and enables the car to travel up to 19 miles (31 km) solely on electric power.
The Concept X5 eDrive features kidney grille slats, air-intake bars and the inlay in the rear bumper painted in a shade of blue developed for the brand, contrasting with the Silverflake metallic exterior.
It also comes with specially designed roof rails, a connector for the charging cable that lights up during charging and 21-in. light-alloy wheels.
