BMW shows off its vision for Efficient Dynamics with a 43mpg X5

BMWs Efficient Dynamics concept study sports special aerodynamic wheels(Credit: CNET Networks)

From a distance it looks just like a regular soccermom-mobile. But the car that BMW put center stage this morning at the Geneva auto show represents the German automaker's vision for fuel-efficient technologies over the next few years. The car is powered by a diesel-electric version of BMW's Adaptive Hybrid system, comprising a four-cylinder variable twin-turbo combustion engine mated to a 15kW electric motor driven by a lithium-ion battery pack. BMW claims that this is the first diesel engine in the world achieve a specific output of greater than 100 horsepower per liter.



The car is the first example of a diesel-electric hybrid from BMW(Credit: CNET Networks)

Also a first for a German manufacturer is the car's new ZF eight-speed transmission, which should send Lexus engineers back to the drawing board. Other energy saving features of the car include special aerodynamic rims and a solar roof, which transfers the sun's heat to the car's transmission fluid. So what does it all mean? Well, BMW claims that this full-size ute can achieve 6.5 liters per 100km--just over 43mpg. While we don't expect solar panels on our next 3-series review car, BMW says that step by step, elements of this design concept will be applied across its model range in the next few years.