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BMW says X5 xDrive40e PHEV will get 55 MPGe

This is one vehicle that Sammy Hagar can actually drive 55. Miles on the equivalent of a gallon of gas, that is. BMW has starting talking about details of its first-ever production plug-in hybrid CUV, and the latest are centered on the model's projected miles per gallon-equivalent figure. Bimmer is now saying the its X5 xDrive40e PHEV will get a robust 55 MPGe on the US EPA scale (on the European scale, the vehicle's expected 77 or 78 grams of CO2 per kilometer would translate to around 70 mpg). The model, which pairs 2.0-liter twin-turbo four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, will be able to go as far as 13 miles on electricity alone, and also hit 75 miles per hour using just the battery. BMW first unveiled the model at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013. The CUV, which will have full-time all-wheel drive, will have some guts, too. The model will deliver 308 horsepower, including 111 from the electric motor alone. As a result, the X5 xDrive40e will be able to scoot from 0-60 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds. Not exactly Tesla Model S quick, but peppy nevertheless. US and European sales for the model-year 2016 version will start this fall. The model will be produced at the company's plant in Spartanburg, SC. Take a look at BMW's press release below. Show full PR text The BMW X5 xDrive40e Launches the Next Chapter of EfficientDynamics with its First Ever Plug-in Hybrid Sports Activity Vehicle The new BMW X5 xDrive40e. The first plug-in hybrid BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Up to 13 miles of zero-tailpipe-emission pure electric driving Preliminary fuel economy estimates up to 55 MPGe 0-60 mph in just 6.5 seconds Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – March 17, 2015 ... The BMW X5 xDrive40e, the company's first plug-in hybrid Sports Activity Vehicle, charts the next chapter of BMW's ongoing EfficientDynamics initiative. Benefitting from the groundbreaking work by BMW i on electromobility, the X5 xDrive40e combines the company's award-winning 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, powered by a lithium-ion battery, integrated into its 8-speed automatic transmission. This newest BMW SAV can travel approximately 13 miles on pure electric power, ideally suited to short commutes and quick trips around town. Working in concert, the gasoline engine and electric motor puts out 308 horsepower and produces 332 lb-ft, enough to propel the X5 xDrive40e from 0-60mph in just 6.5 seconds.

BMW X4 Concept is no Shanghai surprise

"One in four new BMW cars is now a BMW SAV." If you're new to BMW parlance, SAV stands for Sports Activity Vehicle, a vehicle type most of us more commonly refer to as a crossover, and that statistic, which comes straight from the automaker itself, tells you all you need to know about why the X4 Concept you see above exists.
Like its larger X6 sibling, the BMW X4 Concept tries to shove a crossover in a mold shaped vaguely like a fastback coupe. Put another way, the X4 is likely to be a polarizing design, though perhaps not to the extent that the X6 divided opinions. As for us, we definitely prefer the styling of this X4 Concept, with its strong character lines and impressive wheel-to-bodyside ratio, over that of its bigger brother. That said, we're sure the AMC Eagle comparisons will begin in earnest starting right about... now.
Dimensionally, it seems the most obvious machine with which to compare this X4 Concept is the 3 Series Wagon - we're not sure if it will be as spacious inside as the 3 Series Gran Turismo. A two-inch stretch in the wheelbase ought to bring a commensurate improvement in legroom, and a body that's nearly five inches longer should be a boon for cargo capacity. Of course, that fastback roofline will surely cut down on the car's roominess inside, but we'll have to wait for the final production model to judge its true capabilities.

LA Design Challenge invokes biology for 2025 concepts [w/poll]

Participants in the annual LA Design Challenge always manage to come up with edgy, wacky designs for future vehicles, but with a theme of "Biomimicry and Mobility: 2025" this year's crop of cars might be the quirkiest we've ever seen. As usual, automotive designers from around the world participated in this year's competition, and all the designs will all be unveiled next week during the LA Auto Show with a winner being announced on November 21.
Chinese automakers made a strong showing with Qoros, SAIC Motor, JAC Motors (the company responsible for the Ford F-150 clone) and Changfeng all bringing interesting takes on the biology, human intelligence and sustainability theme. One of the more innovative ideas among these automakers is the Qoros Silk Road System allows autonomous vehicles to drive in packs similar to how ants travel. Speaking of ants, the SAIC Motor Mobiliant (shown above) gets its design from the shape of an ant's body, and, like the insect, it can climb building acting as a personal elevator as well. The JAC Motors design also merges vehicle and building design, while the Changfeng LaBrea inspired by the design of muscle fibers.
Other entrants include Subaru and US-based design teams for BMW, Toyota and Mazda. BMW's duo of concepts mimic plant and animal life. The LA Subways concept acts as a submersible, single-person vehicle to take advantage of the LA river, with a shape similar to an Ocean Sunfish. The Sustainable Efficient Exploratory Device (SEED) imitates the shape of a seed pod, and uses propulsion methods inspired by a shark, dragonfly and a water bug. Mazda's Auto Adapt might be the most car-like concept of the bunch, while the Subaru Suba-Roo and the Calty-designed, Toyota e-grus are the most mind-blowingly awesome.