BMW has revealed details on the ActiveHybrid 5, the 5 Series sedan based model which is the third BMW hybrid model.
For the first time, the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 brings together the 225kW turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine with a 40kW electric motor – both driving the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. BMW claims a 250kW combined output.
While returning fuel consumption more than 10 per cent better than the equivalent 535i, BMW says the ActiveHybrid5 delivers emission-free pure electric driving in urban areas and the renown BMW sporty performance on the open road. Electric power alone can power the BMW ActiveHybrid5 up to 60km/h, but zero to 100km/h takes just 5.9 seconds (that’s faster than the 535i).
The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 houses its lithium ion battery in the boot and charge comes from coasting or braking (the electric motor becomes a generator supplying power back to the battery). With BMW’s ECO PRO mode, after the petrol engine and electric motor combine to provide acceleration, while cruising at speeds up to 160km/h the petrol engine can be turned-off and decoupled so all power generation comes from the electric motor (similar to auto start/stop mode when stationary).
A clever concept is the globally unique intelligent management system which uses the satellite navigation system to prepare the BMW ActiveHybrid 5’s drive system in advance so it’s in optimum shape for the upcoming situations. This system relies on the quality of the local navigation data.
Externally, the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 is available in a unique paint colour, ‘Bluewater Metallic’, but otherwise changes over the regular 5 Series are minimal – some ActiveHybrid 5 badges matt chrome tailpipes and galvanized slats for the BMW kidney grille will do it (unless you option the 18-inch Streamline alloy wheels.
Same inside where the hallmark BMW luxury gets just an ActiveHybrid 5 badge on the centre console and of course the battery storage unit inside the boot (adorned with a similar badge).
