17/07/2008 10:04. DEATH VALLEY, California — With BMW's X6 Active Hybrid safely in its development process, the appearance of the 2009 BMW X5 hybrid in the California desert is not entirely unexpected.

Spinning off the hybrid technology on the X5's largely related platform seems a no-brainer in this increasingly fuel-conscious environment. And if the huge hood bulge isn't enough of a hybrid giveaway, the neon green warning sticker affixed to the X5's backlight confirms the vehicle's content, stating, "Caution! Hybrid-Prototype (High Voltage on Board)."

Earlier this year at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show, BMW unveiled an X5 Hybrid concept using a twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel.... // Edmunds.com/Inside Line