BMW to launch 5-Series FULL hybrid in 2011

i've seen a few of those on the road here in Los Angeles. there is usually one parked out front of my g/f work...

 

It sounds like they are doing hybrids for the purpose of perception; kicking and screaming. Yes, your implementation of mild hybrids isn't as good as your diesel so start working on a real FULL hybrid.

Green Car Congress: BMW 5 Series Full Hybrid to Be Available Next Year; Hybridization of Further Series to Come

 

No its real. There are euro emissions requirements and american fe standards that they are trying to meet.

With these high torque engines the mild hybrid makes a lot of sense. It will compete with the Lexus GS full hybrid and I doubt there will be 1 mpg difference between them. Horsepower is similar, but I bet the bmw handling is much better without the added weight.

BMW seems to be working on their full hybrid techonlogy only on plug ins, and a rumored M3 hybrid seems to be the likely first implementation. The diesels are quite a different animal, and I doubt bmw will bring many to the US.

 

GS450h should be compared to the 550i (not 535i) due to V8 performance. The FE gap is 6 MPG (17 vs 23). I doubt a mild hybrid will boost 5 MPG as they normally gain about 10%.

GS450h is already lighter than 550i.

 

Not sure what you want to compare. The bmw active hybrid starts with a 300 hp turbo 6 and adds tuning and 40kwh electric, so I would expect it to increase hp as the active hybrid 7 did. The bmw V8 has 400hp. I think the lexus hybrid has 340. I would expect that if there is a performance gap on real roads the bmw is likely to win.

I don't know the weights of the cars so you may be right about weight. I haven't driven a 2011 bmw 5 yet, but the 2010 generation has much better driving dynamics than gs. We will see where milage comes in, but I would expect the bmw to get 23 or 24 epa combined mpg. That's too low for me. I'm hoping they do something good on the 3 series with its lighter weight. A strong turbo 4 hybrid may be coming.

 

Ok, I just saw they plan to use 3 liter V6 for the hybrid. It will be interesting to see how it comes out.

 

thing is with a non-hybrid 5 series already averaging 57mpg (uk ones) it is almost like what is the point....

the current 3 series in the uk can average 69mpg with its stop/start system...

But yes if it can bring emissions down further, then it would be interest...

 

np. Both of these hybrids have similar output to the V8 in my past GS400. I like the electric flywheel approach to higher powered cars. The motor is 40kw versus 60kw on the prius. It should provide plenty of torque to smooth out the turbo in the inline 6. It will be interesting to see how well the implementation works. Competition should help get us to a better implementation. I like the hsd best on the bellow 200hp cars though.

I think you are looking at figures from lower powered diesels. We don't get those in America (and they likely would not sell well). It will hopefully get more people to buy hybrids than v8 which should give much lower emissions and better fe. I would think they would add better mileage and power to the diesels in the real world, but don't know on those UK tests.

 

Yes those are figures of the 520d and the 320d...The 'lower' powered models yet, and don't forget I actually have driven them so no Internet keyboard warrior here and used to have a 750i myself, they still do 0-60 in 7-8 seconds and the mpg is real world...

Heck those tiny little diesels have more power than some of the old skool US V8 blocks, but I do appreciate it is hard to change the culture....Shame though, as for long distance they are so good....

But mainly around town, I do think hybrid or electric is ultimately better...today....

 

I'm not against diesels. There just are not models sold here. The 520d would be too expensive in the US to sell many (8.7 sec from bmw) with anemic acceleration. The 320d might sell decently here, but bmw hasn't brought them over. The imported 3 series is the 335d for $45K and 27mpg combined, not exactly a huge fuel miser or cheap car. The UK cycle seems to get much better mpg than the epa after converting imperial gallons to gallons. That's why I doubt the figures would be real world here. I don't get close to epa city mileage in any car. Yes when it comes to the new clean diesels, I'm a keyboard warrior, as there are not many over here. Definitely some vw's, trucks, and very old Mercedes diesels are around.

All the cars here are getting higher horsepower. BMW was complaining about the culture in Japan. The problem with diesels here is relatively high price and lack of interesting diesels models to buy.

 

I must admit that I find comments like anemic acceleration amusing, I mean if it is good enough for the fast paced german autobahn with many areas without a legal speed limit and it is deemed anemic for the US? Hmmm Interesting...

 

lol, I did buy a prius which has even more anemic acceleration. I am still trying to get used to it. Locally we have several badly designed on ramps where you need to get from 5-50 very quickly or wait a long time for a big gap. I'm a heavy bike rider with really slow acceleration. In a triathlon, I can take my time and speed up (I have a big torque band), but I don't stand a chance in the pack of a regular road race.

Not many here will pay more than $50k for a car that takes close to 9 seconds to get to 60. As I said, I think if bmw brought over the lower priced, lighter 320d it would find some buyers. I wasn't criticizing European choices, but until recently normal diesels would not meet US emissions regulations. They are now cleaner, but the price performance for those available in the US make them a hard sell.

Would you buy the bmw 335d or 335i given that the 335i is about $2k cheaper, 1 second to 60 faster, and uses less expensive fuel. The 335d is very fast but if you want good mileage there are much better choices. btw: on the X5, bmw is selling around 1/3 as diesels.

 

I like the idea of regulating the pollution rather than straight consumption.

The 535d is bmw's 3 liter turbo 6. I would expect that if the active hybrid 5 is successful they will make this a hybrid too. I doubt it will make it out of europe though. If they do I would seriously consider buying it.

 

As a petrol head I like the idea of a large turbo petrol six cylinder hybrid engine. But as a green (pun intended) person dabbling in going more Eco friendly I am struggling to see the point beside an "us too" marketing gimmick.

 

Yes, with NiMH. I think NiMH packs in V6 and V8 HSD are underpowered. Lithium should take the high power HSD to a new level.