BMW at the Geneva Motor Show: BMW 5 Series Hybrid Revealed

The BMW 5 Series Hybrid

As we reported in December, with a couple of days to go to the Geneva Motor Show BMW have revealed that the new BMW 5 Series (2010) will have a Hybrid added to its ranks. Actually, they haven’t said that – the 5 Series Hybrid Concept they’re taking to Geneva is labelled a Concept – but we all know it’s what they mean.

The 5 Series Hybrid will join the X6 Hybrid and the 7 Series Hybrid when it goes on sale, probably in 2011. It will also be the third version of a hybrid powertrain BMW has released. In this case the 5 Series gets a powertrain similar to that of the 7 Series Hybrid but with a bigger electric motor – 40kW instead of 15kW – and a smaller engine – the twin turbo 3.0 litre in0line 6 from the 535 – instead of the V8 in the 7 Series.

The 5 Hybrid gets a bigger bank of batteries – mounted in the boot – although BMW aren’t saying whether they’re nickel metal hydride battery like the X6 or a lithium battery like the 7 Series.The 5 Hybrid gets some clever kit to use the SatNav to predict obstacles such as hills, corners and traffic obstructions that could affect battery life and then turn off the engine before it reaches its destination, finishing the trip on electric power alone.

All of seems like a lot of work and extra cost for a saving that BMW estimate to be in the region of 10%.

By Cars UK