Could the 2016 BMW X5 eDrive hybrid be the next step in green car technology?

The new vehicle, which is scheduled to start delivering in the first quarter of 2015, combines a turbocharged, direct injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, Yahoo Autos reported.  The gas-powered engine offers 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the electric motor adds 94 more horses.

The new X5 is an improved update on BMW's ActiveHybrid system, which is available on several of the carmaker's car and truck models but hasn't really brought in customers.

"Frankly, none of these heavy ActiveHybrid models have convinced a lot of people to plunk down the premium price tag because all felt precisely like placeholder models," wrote a Yahoo Autos blogger.

The X5, which will be showcased as a concept at this week's New York Auto Show, will likely be competing next year with the new Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid and the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid, according to Green Car Reports.

BMW recently allowed media to drive the third-generation test car, which was built at the South Carolina plant.

The concept retains the BMW xDrive all-wheel drive and has the three standard BMW drive modes: Eco Pro to maximize efficiency, Comfort as the default and Sport for extra power.

The new vehicle uses technological elements from the company's "BMW i" project, which influenced the 2014 BMW i3 battery-electric hatchback as well as the 2015 BMW i3 plug-in hybrid sports coupe, said Green Car Reports.

While BMW hasn't yet announced pricing, the new X5 coming in 2016 will likely be within the $60,000 range, according to Yahoo Autos.

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