BMW will prove at the Geneva Motor Show, which opened this week, that SUVs can be green.

Its BMW Vision EfficientDynamics, a concept car based on the X5 SUV, boasts a twin-turbocharged 2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, a new eight-speed automatic gearbox, a mild hybrid system and even roof-mounted solar panels.

It is expected to deliver more than 15km per litre of fuel and emit just 172g/km of CO2. Yet, it will sprint from zero to 100kmh in just 8.9 seconds.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Mar 8, 2008.