BMW Group Australia has confirmed its first plug-in hybrid vehicles – the 330e sedan and X5 xDrive40e – will be on-sale locally in May.
The BMW 330e will be priced at $71,900 and the X5 xDrive 40e will set you back $118,900.
Both offer pure electric motoring – 37kms for the 330e and 31kms for the X5 xDrive 40e.
Specifications mirror the 330i sedan and X5 xDrive40d but with a couple of major differences – the plug-in hybrid BMWs come with Acoustic Protection for pedestrians and ConnectedDrive eDrive Services.
“Our eDrive models will introduce BMW EfficientDynamics and hybrid technology to a whole new audience, continuing our ongoing commitment to sustainable mobility,” explained BMW’s marketing chief Shawn Ticehurst. “Many drivers will be able to complete their daily commute exclusively on electric power, recharging their car by plugging into a normal power point at home or work.”
The beauty of these vehicles is - unlike some electric vehicles – they don’t look like a teenager boy’s science book doodling – they look, feel and drive just as you’d expect from BMW.
BMW’s plug-in hybrid full-size SUV, the X5 xdrive40e is propelled by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine and a synchronous electric motor integrated with the eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission.
Combined output is 230kW/450Nm – good enough for zero to 100km/h in 6.8 seconds and a combined fuel consumption figure of 3.3l/100kms.
The 330e sedan employs a similar powerplant and delivers a combined 185kW/420Nm for zero to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds and combined fuel consumption of only 2.1l/100kms
