BMW lands two new plug-ins

BMW will bring plug-in hybrid power to its mainstream models for the first time, with the X5 xDrive40e SUV and 330e sedan set to be priced from around $120,000 and $80,000 respectively when they go on sale here in April.

BMW was the first German luxury brand to offer hybrid power in Australia, with the ActiveHybrid 3, 5 and 7 Series in 2013, and the first to release plug-in models with last year's i3 hatch and i8 coupe, which it claims is the world's best-selling hybrid sports car.

Based on Australia's top-selling large luxury SUV, the X5 xDrive40e was revealed to media this morning in Melbourne. It's not Australia's first plug-in hybrid SUV – that honour goes to the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid released last year with a price of about $140,000 – but it is slightly more efficient.

The 2.2-tonne X5 PHEV comes with claimed average fuel consumption of 3.3L/100km (versus 3.4 for the Porsche) and emits CO2 at a rate of 77g/km, making it 'greener' than the current Toyota Prius.

The BMW combines a 180kW/350Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine with an 83kW/250Nm electric motor to deliver combined outputs of 230kW and 450Nm and 0-100km/h acceleration in 6.8 seconds, almost a second slower than the V6-powered Cayenne hybrid.

It and can run as a zero-emissions electric vehicle for around 30km before the 9kWh Lithium-ion battery runs low and, unlike fully electric cars, the X5 PHEV takes just four hours to charge via a regular 10-amp domestic wall socket.

The downside is the electric motor and battery adds about 120kg to the vehicle’s weight and eats into cabin space. Cargo capacity is reduced to 500 litres and, as with Mitsubishi's pioneering Outlander PHEV, there's no third-row seven-seat option.

Featuring high-quality leather as standard and all the bells-and-whistles you could want, the X5 xDrive40e will be offered in just one "very well specified" trim variant when it arrives in April with a circa-$120K pricetag.

That will make it slightly pricier than the X5 xDrive40d diesel but more affordable than the petrol V8-powered xDrive 50i.

BMW Group Australia's Product Manager for 'i' and 'X' models, Brendan Michel, told motoring.com.au that the X5 xDrive40e won't be a volume-seller but it will attract tech-savvy motorists.

"This car is for somebody who wants the large SUV without the environmental impact," said Michel. "They might have solar panels at home to charge the car sustainably, they are future-thinking individuals."

Despite the high asking price, Michel said: "We expect there'll be demand for this car," adding that it's likely to sell in similar numbers to the 40d - around 300 units per year.

"The whole [plug-in hybrid] segment is really going to start firing in the next couple of years. Every brand is bringing out their own plug-in hybrids, so it's creating a lot of focus and attention."

Michel said "driving around in an SUV that makes no noise" was the coolest part of the X5e, observing that it's a somewhat surreal experience, but one that buyers will warm to.

"It's very smooth and even when cruising at 100km/h in Eco Pro mode, when you take your foot off the accelerator the petrol engine turns off. It's impressive."

Low petrol prices are unlikely to stymie interest in the new model, the BMW Australia executive told motoring.com.au, and sight unseen the vehicle has already generated "a lot of enquiries" with dealers.

BMW’s other plug-in hybrid, the 330e, will be the more affordable and indeed greener vehicle.

Expected to be priced at around $80,000 and capable of driving further than the X5 in EV mode (37km), it packs a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine (135kW/290Nm) matched to an electric motor (65kW/250Nm) and a 7.6kWh lithium-ion engine to develop a total of 185kW and 420Nm.

The BMW 330e is claimed to use fuel at a rate of just 2.1L/100km while emitting CO2 of 49g/km – both exceedingly low figures – but it can still accelerate to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds, which isn't slow.

Like the X5 plug-in hybrid the 330e loses some boot space, which is down to 370 litres, to accommodate the battery pack.

Audi's first hybrid model is the small A3 e-tron plug-in hatch priced from $62,490, and both Lexus (IS 300h, from $60,000) and Infiniti (Q50 Hybrid S, from $67,900) offer mid-size (non plug-in) hybrid sedans.

But BMW's 330e will have no direct rival. At least, not until Mercedes-Benz launches its first PHEV model – the C 350e sedan – a month later in May.

"Our new eDrive models signal a real expansion of this area in Australia and reinforce our commitment to alternative fuel vehicles," said BMW Group Australia CEO, Marc Werner.

"BMW Group has been very active in advocating sustainable mobility," added Werner, who is understood to be lobbying the federal government for incentives to make EVs and plug-in hybrids more affordable to buyers.