BMW Concept X5 eDrive: Driving impressions

We got a chance to sample the BMW Concept X5 eDrive, a plug-in hybrid version of the BMW X5 luxury SUV, ahead of its appearance at BMW's New York auto show press conference. While comprehensive driving impressions will have to wait for a longer test, we were able to get some quick impressions of the new BMW hybrid at the company's New Jersey headquarters.

The X5 eDrive made short work of the hills and curves around BMW's campus, with all mechanical systems working pretty seamlessly. A first-time hybrid driver will no doubt be fascinated by the dashboard display that shows the X5 eDrive concept car switching among gasoline power, battery power or both.

The driver can let the X5 do all the thinking, or they can use two switches in the center console to basically choose more gas engine, more electric motor, more sporty or less sporty.

The first switch, the Driving Experience Control switch, is similar to that found on other BMWs already in production. It lets the driver choose “comfort” or “sport” settings and also a third, fuel-saving “eco pro” mode.

The second, a so-called Proactive Driving Assistant button, is unique to the plug-in hybrid. It has three modes, too.

BMW
Mode selectors allow the BMW X5 plug-in hybrid to operate in gas only or electric only modes.

The default mode is “Auto eDrive,” where the car does the thinking. The “Max eDrive” mode uses battery power only, and is recommended for urban driving. If the driver really floors the accelerator, the gasoline engine will still kick in to deliver the required thrust. “Save Battery” mode locks out the electric motor and relies on the gasoline engine alone.

On battery power alone, the range is estimated at about 20 miles. According to BMW, that's enough to accomplish about 80 percent of trips the average X5 driver makes.

Unlike some other plug-in hybrids like the Chevy Volt, the gasoline engine in the X5 eDrive concept doesn't serve as a range extender to recharge the battery. The SUV does get some recharging from regenerative brakes, but for the most part once the driver unplugs the car, the clock starts ticking on the stored battery power.

The company wouldn't say precisely, but the concept car is likely to see production sometime in 2015, in time for the 2016 model year. It would be the first BMW X5 with a four-cylinder gasoline engine, and it would be the brand's biggest plug-in hybrid.

BMW
The BMW X5 eDrive plug in hybrid uses a four-cylinder gasoline engine coupled with an electric motor.

The X5 plug-in hybrid shares a lot of technology with the $135,000+ BMW i8. The heart of the X5 concept car consists a pair of powerplants working alone or in tandem: at the front is the four-cylinder, twin-turbo gasoline engine that generates 240 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque. At the rear, underneath the cargo floor, is the electric motor that generates 95 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque.

Combined, the hybrid drivetrain is expected to produce more than 270 hp and torque of about 300 lb-ft. BMW conservatively estimates fuel mileage at more than 40 mpg. In European testing, the math works out to the equivalent of about 61 mpg, but testing for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is on a different basis and is expected to produce different numbers.

Pricing for the X5 plug-in will be announced closer to the launch next year.

By Jim Henry