![]() ![]() In the midrange it’s properly quick and a genuine sleeper. A big dollop of instantaneous torque from the electric motor helps propel the 5 from zero to 62 mph in just 5.9 seconds, according to BMW’s own figures. The car’s eco-credentials may at times feel a little tenuous, but there’s no denying its rapidity. rush-hour traffic, then the system has an important role to play, but if you’re a country boy, it’s hard to see the benefit. Keeping it in electric mode also means playing footsie with the throttle or you’ll inadvertently kick-start the engine. But not very far: BMW reckons you can drive 2.5 miles at an average of 22 mph before the gasoline engine must intervene. The weight-to-power of 12.2 pounds per horsepower is better than a 535i, but not by much.Īssuming there’s power in the battery and you’ve bothered to select Eco Pro mode, the ActiveHybrid can be driven at speeds up to 37 mph on electric power alone. Put the two together and transmission losses reduce the combined sum to 335 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque in a vehicle that tips the scales at 4,079 pounds (EU measure). On its own, the electric motor serves up 54 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque, while the 2,979cc turbo inline-6 offers 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. ![]() The system weighs 309 pounds, which partly negates the benefit of electric propulsion. It pinches a not inconsiderable 5.1 cubic feet of space, which leaves 13.2 cubic feet. The motor is integrated into the transmission, while the lithium-ion battery pack is housed in the trunk, just behind the rear seats. In essence, the 2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 5 is a 535i with an electric motor assistant. Only now will you feel like you’re driving a hybrid. If you want to experience the full benefits of gas-electric propulsion, you need to activate Eco Pro mode. The default setting for the Driving Dynamics Control is Comfort, in which mode the hybrid is almost indistinguishable from the mainstream models. This means you can adapt the NASCAR position, even if you’re long of leg.Īs with nearly every contemporary BMW, a drive of the ActiveHybrid 5 cannot be undertaken without first engaging in a little computer science. The quality is tremendous, with the exception of some nasty plastic on the internal B-pillar, and the driving position is made perfect by a steering wheel that offers an exceptionally long range of telescopic adjustment. It’s true that the 5 looks like a scaled-down facsimile of a 7 Series, but that’s more likely to worry owners of the top-line model. The rest of the cabin is classic 5 Series, which is no bad thing. ![]() The latter offers the opportunity for a bit of sport, although we also found it inspired a masochistic tendency to score as poorly as possible. There’s a neat graphic that tells you how the energy’s being distributed and a bar chart that tracks your fuel consumption over time. The 9.2-inch color display system also boasts a few new functions. This includes “ActiveHybrid 5” door sill strips and a little aluminum plaque on the center console. Slide a sandal inside and you’ll be greeted by more conscience-pleasing paraphernalia. Combine all this and no one will doubt that you genuinely care and are nothing like those socially irresponsible types in the 550i. There’s a revised kidney grille with “galvanized slats” and the option of some proprietary 18-inch wheels which, according to BMW, “display exceptional aerodynamic efficiency.” Most customers are also likely to opt for a Bluewater Metallic paint job, which is unique to BMW’s hybrid range. That’s why there are giant “look at me” ActiveHybrid badges on the C-pillars, and more on the trunk. BMW knows that hybrid buyers like to shout about their purchase, even if it’s only used as a shuttle to a private airport. Allegedly.įast-forward four years and on a chilly day in Lisbon, Portugal, we’re confronted with the reality of the 2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 5. “We’ll call it Efficient Dynamics,” says Wolfgang, “but with the focus on the Dynamics.”Īnd thus, from a gray office in Bavaria, the ActiveHybrid 5 was born. They know only too well that in the market of the future, customers won’t want a hair-shirted alternative they’ll want a high-performance sedan with a feel-good badge. “That is true,” Wolfgang interjects, “or we could pair an electric motor with a 300-horsepower, six-cylinder turbo and make it bloody fast.” Both men smile as one. “We could team a four-cylinder turbo with our own motor and build the world’s most efficient executive sedan.” “Toyota has achieved cult status with the Prius by combining an electric motor with a gasoline engine,” says Luther. They’re speaking German, but we have a translator on hand. It’s 2008 and talk turns to the development of the 2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 5. We are in a nondescript office in Munich. Posted at Februari 26th, 2012 | Categorised in Car Review ![]()
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