Seemingly on an eternal mission to cut CO2 emissions to the bone - no easy task when you produce so many high performance cars - BMW has pulled the wraps off its latest hybrid creation.
The ActiveHybrid 5 claims to be the most powerful and most efficient full hybrid vehicle in its segment and the numbers it backs this with sound impressive enough:
The sedan boasts a system output of 250kW, allowing the car to sprint from 0-100km/h in just 5.9 seconds - according to BMW. Yet despite it being quite a runner in anyone's book, claimed fuel consumption is pegged at between 6.4 and 7.0 litres per 100km, equating to an emissions rating of just 149g/km of CO2.
What's more, it can drive up to 4km on electric power alone, although the maximum speed in this mode is just 60km/h. It also offers a 'coasting mode' which allows the car to coast with the engine off at speeds of up to 160km/h.
SO HOW DOES IT WORK?
The full hybrid drivetrain mates BMW's 225kW six-cylinder TwinPower turbopetrol engine to a 40kW electric drive system that's fed by a high-performance lithium-ion battery integrated in the boot. The battery is also, in turn, charged by the electric motor, which acts as a generator when the car is coasting or braking. Regardless of where the power is coming from, the hybrid system sends its power to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
To fully exploit the potential of the hybrid technology, intelligent energy management of the power electronics ensure that the drive system runs as efficiently as possible.
This hybrid system doesn't completely do its own thing though - it's actually smart enough to speak to the navigation system to analyse the driving situation and then sets up the driving components to deliver maximum efficiency.
In all, it's a lot smarter and more efficient than the 535i it's based on, but how would you tell them apart then?
While the differences are subtle, the ActiveHybrid 5 can be had with a unique colour (Bluewater metallic) that's not available on the other models and other points of difference include galvanised slats on the kidney grille, 'ActiveHybrid 5' lettering on the C-pillars and matt chrome tailpipes. Buyers can also opt for a set of 18-inch Streamline alloys.