Official: BMW ActiveHybrid 3 is an efficient use of 340 hp

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Luxury

We've learned to expect that hybrid vehicles will produce lower emissions and fuel-consumption scores than their standard gasoline-burning siblings. What we generally don't expect, however, is for that same hybrid to be quicker to 60 than its turbocharged brother or for it to make more overall horsepower.

Such is the case with the BMW ActiveHybrid 3, which offers up 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque from its 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline six and electric motor combination - useful gains from the 300 hp and 300 lb-ft in the 335i. Those added ponies allow the Hybrid 3 to hit 62 miles per hour in just 5.3 seconds, a .2-second improvement, according to the automaker, over the thirstier 335i.

BMW says the Hybrid 3 can travel up to 2.5 miles on electricity alone at speeds of up to 46 miles per hour, though not at the same time, of course, and fuel efficiency of about 40 miles per gallon on the EU test cycle. Expect the U.S. EPA figure to vary from that figure.

A lithium ion battery pack resides in the trunk, and it's made up of 96 individual cells with a rated output of 675 Wh. Power is sent to the rear wheels from the dual drivetrain through an eight-speed automatic gearbox that shares its outer casing with the 55-hp electric motor. Naturally, there's a rather prominent badge on the C-pillar displaying the car's fuel-saving credentials, as you can see in our image gallery above.

Full details can be found in the press release below, but there's still no word on when we can expect to see the ActiveHybrid 3 in the States or what it may cost if and when it arrives.

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BMW ActiveHybrid 3 is an efficient use of 340 hp originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/06/bmw-activehybrid-3-is-an-efficient-use-of-340-hp/

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