The BMW Concept X5 eDrive inaugurates a new offensive by the Bavarian brand on polluting emissions and high consumption. Successfully? It seems so.
The 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show will be one of the most anticipated of recent times, but it will also eventually be the greenest ever. As a result of the growing ecological awareness, BMW has not been left behind and after years of development of its “Efficient Dynamics” versions, BMW has decided to take another step forward. It all started with the i3 and i8 prototypes that are currently in their final stages, but it's not those that we're going to make known to you, but the new hybrid «plug-in» of the Bavarian brand, the BMW Concept X5 eDrive.
And if you can't imagine such technology in this model right now, then RA will clarify for you in more detail, according to BMW the Concept X5 eDrive in 100% electric mode is capable of reaching 120km/h, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in combined mode is 7.0 seconds and autonomy in electric mode amounts to 30 km. With regard to consumption, the average is 3.8l/100km.
Mechanically, the eDrive system consists of a 4-cylinder block with BMW "Twin Power Turbo" technology and an electric motor developed entirely by BMW with 95 horsepower powered by lithium-ion batteries. According to BMW the X5 eDrive can be charged from a household outlet with the specific cable provided.
When it comes to the driving experience, the x5 eDrive has 3 modes for the driver to choose from, of which we now highlight the «intelligent hybrid» mode, which allows for better management between performance and efficiency, followed by the «Pure Drive» mode which is actually the 100% electric mode and finally the «Save Battery» mode which manages the functioning of the combustion engine as a means of locomotion and an electric generator for charging the batteries.
As far as design is concerned, BMW limited itself to introducing small stylistic touches to the X5, but in order to highlight the eDrive version, having opted to equip the typical “kidney” grille, the side air intakes and the frieze of the rear bumper in BMW i Blue, specially developed for the new BMW i product family.
The biggest change in the bodywork, which even goes unnoticed, are the roof bars with an exclusive design, the charging cable it has, a load status indicator light and exclusive wheels with a special design that reduces aerodynamic resistance, with a eye-popping size no less than 21 inches. The xDrive system has not been forgotten and has been given a big boost, a new electronic brain that operates the intelligent distribution of traction between the 2 axles in a totally variable way, combining both the combustion engine and the electric motor.
As in all BMWs, the X5 eDrive also has the «ECO PRO» mode, which for the 1st time has a specific setting that helps the driver to practice the most efficient drive possible by combining various types of information. There is also an option within this mode, the "Hybrid Proactive Driving Assistant", which adds a more efficient management of the GPS, through the control of route, traffic and speed limits, all in the name of saving resources.
Despite all the Gadgets of this X5 eDrive, none of them beats, the new BMW «ConnectedDrive», an application that promises to manage all trips aboard the X5, whenever 100% electric mode is used. This "software" allows you to create a logbook that monitors, in addition to all mechanical parameters, it also monitors traffic conditions, type of route and driving style, all this information can be sent to a "Smartphone" for later consultation via the exclusive BMW App.
