While planning to debut its new BMW 5 Series saloon car at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show next week, the German car manufacturer has also revealed plans for a Concept 5 Series ActiveHybrid.
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The BMW Concept 5 Series ActiveHybrid will be the first combination of a straight-six with electric drive. It integrates the ActiveHybrid technology into a 5 Series model to slash both fuel consumption and emissions by more than 10 per cent.
Featured in the model will be a straight-six petrol engine with TwinPower turbo technology, an eight-speed automatic transmission and an electric drive system that has been developed specifically for the model. An automatic clutch will connect the petrol engine and electric motors while energy is drawn from a high voltage battery pack at the back of the car.
The drivetrain technology includes an auto start-stop function that consistently switches off the combustion engine when stopping at traffic lights, at a junction or in congested traffic. The electric motor also includes a boost function to support the petrol engine and the high voltage battery has been designed for this concept with a special case near the rear axle that leads to harmonious weight distribution and offers the optimum position for safety.
In addition, the BMW Concept 5 Series ActiveHybrid also includes an intelligent energy management system which has the ability to adjust the operating strategy not only to current, but also to upcoming driving conditions. The power electronics evaluate data that indicates a potential change in exterior conditions and prepares the drivetrain as appropriate. For example, if the system determines that the road will lead downhill, the charge level of the battery is controlled in advance to regain brake energy with maximum efficiency.
The vehicle will make its debut in Geneva on March 2.
