Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid was an instant hit – and now the German carmaker has announced when it will be made available.
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The ActiveHybrid 5 will reach showrooms in the UK from February 2012 and reach the US a month later. Based on the BMW 535i saloon car it combines a 3.0litre TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder engine with an electric drive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It produces a combined output of 335hp with a maximum torque of 330lb-ft – allowing it to be driven on electric power alone up to 37mph.
In addition, the vehicle boasts a double digit percentage improvement in fuel economy when compared to the preliminary results for the BMW 535i.
It marks the first time that BMW has combined an inline six with an ActiveHybrid system. The ActiveHybrid 5 has both a conventional 14volt power supply and a high voltage supply with an operating range of 317 volts. The lithium-ion batteries meanwhile, are charged when the car is coasting or braking with the electric motor acting as a generator to feed the battery.
There are also a number of safety features unique to the hybrid system. These include high strength structural components and large deformation zones that help to keep impact forces away from the passenger cell and the hybrid drive components.
