U Spy BMW’s Upcoming X5 eDrive PHEV in Berlin

An eagled-eyed Carscoops reader from Berlin, Germany, spotted this BMW prototype parked on the road.
“Seen in Berlin Prenzlauer Berg on Friday, it looked like an X5, but why should they hide the body so much? Wasn’t it already presented?” Justus B. asked us in an email.

The answer is yes, this is indeed a BMW X5 of the F15 generation that was launched about a year ago, but it’s no ordinary X5.

As evidenced by the tailgate sticker (“Hybrid Test Vehicle”) and the added port on the front wing, this is a development prototype for the Bavarian firm’s upcoming X5 eDrive, a plug-in hybrid version (PHEV) set to be released within the next 18 months.

For those of you keeping a tab on these things, we strongly believe it’s the same or a similar tester that was mistaken for the upcoming BMW X7 luxury SUV.

BMW previewed the X5 PHEV with the X5 eDrive Concept on several occasions over the past year, most recently at the ongoing Paris Auto Show.

In concept trim, the X5 eDrive has a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and a 95PS (94hp) electric motor that allows it to reach 60mph (96km/h) in less than 7 seconds and returns an average fuel economy of 3.8l/100km (74.3 mpg UK / 61.9 mpg US). It can also be driven in pure electric mode for around 30 km (19 miles) at speeds of up to 120 km/h (75mph).

Schönen Dank Justus for the scoop!