About time. Now if some domestic can do something similar for a midsize truck!!

@Topper

they proboably could turn a explorer into one of these for like 100 grand or more. damn the germans for there innovative designe and engeneering know how. This damn thing is so eco frendly if actually comes with a signed photograph of al gore and a membership to your local hippy gathering.

Absolutely awesome, just the right design to keep it driveable and yet still yield great fuel economy. Too bad this thing would cost 150,000 if they put it into production in current form, and once they take the edge off that it'll probly be no more eco friendly than a midsized car. We'll see though, ze germans have managed some remarkable engineering feats with their automobiles before, and if it can be done they're the ones to do it.

Clean, high-mpg diesels have been running in Europe for over 10 years. It was only a matter of time before a major player decided to make a hybrid WITHOUT using a gasoline engine.

Just makes common sense, really. Use clean, high-mpg turbo-diesel powerplant with zero-emission electric generator.

Too bad the Japanese are such great at making cars like the Lexus hybrids but don't know shit about diesels.

What I would like to finally see within the next 10 years??? Make a 60MPG hybrid Corolla with a diesel/electric engine and sell it in the US for under $20,000. It would get the attention of Detroit and give the oil cronies the finger.

it is not because others dun know how great a diesel can be, but the cost/demand/regulation that's prohibit the progress. All people looking for extensive diesel mpg want a price that is too low to justify the break even.

It is pathetic how little North American's know about the automobile market. People saying that their Corolla is cheap on gas..... I'm not saying it isn't but it isn't great neither (I own 1, 32mpg). Every major car company produces small efficient cars for most of the world except for Australia, USA & Canada. The Ford Fiesta is sold in UK with 4.5l/100km, 62.8mpg combined; 74.8MPG HWY! (diesel, http://www.ford.co.uk/fiesta ) The technology is out there already. Just not being implemented in a lot of countries because of legislation against diesels in USA. Even in Australia they are offer some better cars then in North America. Toyota Hilux (Tacoma) is offered in most of the world with a diesel option that gets better than 10l/100km. Due to the legislations against diesel in USA, Canada suffers in choices of automobiles b/c it is a small market in comparison and does not see these vehicles either. Emission standards on diesels are not that strict in USA but manufacturers are hesitant in introducing diesel back in North America. Hybrids are great but production cost and environmental impact in creating and recycling these cars offsets the environmental savings. You need to drive 500,000km to approximately offset environmental construction cost/recycling and to make it worth the extra cost at purchase. This is also partially true for solar cells. Solar cells are terrible for the environment in production. Once created it seems like free energy but look at the cost of production. I am not saying abandon the technology but be careful what you get into.

BRAVO BMW!

I want one!

BRAVO BMW! Its about time somebody finally made a diesel hybrid, that thing puts crappy domestic SUV's to shame.

Hey GM,Ford, Chrysler take a good look and then take another because this is the type of stuff you should be developing, fuel efficiency is why domestics will always lose.

I want one!

I didn't even know a diesel hybrid was possible, I'd like it explained to me by some fancy engineer, because it doesn't really make sense. Diesels are much more efficient to keep running, instead of stopping and starting all the time, like a hybrid.

I wish BMW could import their awesome diesels to the US. Stupid government emissions regulations.

This is a concept car people, they don't have it over in Europe. They do, however, have that sweet 2 liter twin-turbo engine.

I bet this thing would cost even more than 150k to produce at this time.

@Cheap car lover

The point with the hybrid diesel is not to stop it.. but to keep it running (at to most efficient RPM) to recharge the batterys. kind of the same wat that it works on a prius...

Have you seen the Toyota's Hybrid commercials here in the US? The advertisements feature the driver's ability to flip a switch in the Hybrid Highlander for electric only mode so that it is dead silent. Diesels have the bad wrap of being noisy. In fact current gasoline engines are still considered too noisy for North Americans. I guess they think if it makes any noise it is not well built and ready to throw a rod. What do think is the main selling point for a hybrid? Not the mileage, sure that is great but, the first impression people get when they test drive them is, Wow!, this is extremely smooth and quiet. The mileage is a paper figure that is non-subjective.

wow, 8 speed.

Even though I am a big fan of American Cars, my parents know from experience that they do not last long. We need a new car that can carry more than all five of us but is reliable and comfortable. The BMW X5 seems perfect for us. It is fuel efficient and spacious. That should be a requirement for every family. Also, it is very luxurious and Durable with All Wheel Drive (AWD). I also like it's 8-speed automatic and it's aerodynamically efficient wheel spokes. I applaud the BMW X5' for it's 0-60 mph time of less than 9 seconds (at least for a full-size Hybrid SUV anyway). Performance is important to me because I live in a stop and go town of crazy fast drivers, and I would want to be able to keep up with them.

This is for Tom T...

What do you mean:

"main selling point for a hybrid? Not the mileage, sure that is great but, the first impression people get when they test drive them is, Wow!, this is extremely smooth and quiet. The mileage is a paper figure that is non-subjective."???

That is the main reason people buy Hybrids. Its the first thing that comes to their mind when buying a hybrid. Of course they like the smoothness and quietness of the ride, but that is secondly important when purchasing a Hybrid.

What are you SMOKING???!!!

And second of all TOM T,

Many young Americans enjoy having noisy exhausts on their V8 and V6 cars.

What kind of American are YOU?

even oz is jumping on the wagon now with peugeot about to import the peugeot 107 and other companies not far behind the cheapest diesel in oz is currently 18990$ and is the hyandia i30

"Too bad the Japanese are such great at making cars like the Lexus hybrids but don't know shit about diesels."

The Japanese know nearly as much about diesel engines as the Germans, who invented the original engine. They offer diesel engine options in every continent except North America because they know the market for the option is negligible. Ford also offers excellent diesel engines around the world but won't in their home market because its not profitable.

Diesels have a tough time making it into North America because of tough regulations and consumer bias towards gasoline. Diesel fuel isn't readily available at most gas stations. Diesels also work best when attached to a manual transmission; sadly most North Americans don't drive stick.

Diesel engines also cost more (similar to say upgrading from a standard 4cyl to a V6 on a midsized sedan). North Americans, studies show, still prefer power, luxury features, style, handling etc over fuel economy so that pretty much writes off a diesel engine for most people.

Diesel engines are clearly more efficient than gasoline engines but until North Americans buy cars based on fuel economy like most of the world, you won't see diesels making a large comeback in North America.

The above reasons are why hybrids have a better shot of capturing market share in North America. They target a niche market who purchase cars based on fuel economy while offering consumers other benefits.

Hybrids are seen as cutting edge technology that you can boast about (comparable to having SatNav or heating leather seats)

Hybrids can be filled with readily available gasoline

Hybrids are extremely quiet.

Hybrids offer better gas mileage than their non-hybrid counterparts (although its nothing to write home about) so the consumer feels a sense of worth in the purchase.