Hybrid '5'

BMW's all-new F10 5 Series range will not only spawn a stove-hot M5 variant, but will also be crowned by a performance-oriented ActiveHybrid flagship. Sources within the 5 Series program confirmed the plans to debut an ActiveHybrid version at this week's international launch of the new midsized executive sedan in Portugal.

"For sure there will be an ActiveHybrid 5," the BMW insider told the Carsales Network.

"It's not for debut this week or next, but we will not be left behind in this segment in terms of hybrid," he said referencing Mercedes-Benz's likely late-2010/early-2011 launch of a four-cylinder E-Class hybrid model.

Unlike the Benz, however, the BMW will likely be based on a six-cylinder petrol variant.

BMW's first production hybrid, the ActiveHybrid 7 goes on sale in the USA in 2011. Unlike its S-Class Benz equivalent, it can use electric drive alone -- for example in zero emission city zones. The ActiveHybrid 7 hybrid is built on the volume model of the 7 range, the twin-turbo 750i V8.

BMW says it has followed the same logic in developing and debuting the ActiveHybrid 5.

"The most logical step is to base the ActiveHybrid on the volume [petrol] model," our sources stated.

This would indicate that the ActiveHybrid 5 would be based on either the 150kW/270Nm 523i or the base model for Oz (for the moment) the 190kW/310Nm 528i.

Compared to the standard 750i model, the ActiveHybrid 7 has more torque (700Nm versus 600) and is faster in a straight line -- able to hit 100km/h from rest in 4.9secs; three tenths of a second over the non-hybrid's 5.2secs. It can travel around 2km at up to 60km/h on battery power alone.

Fuel economy benefits are around 2.0L/100km in Euro combined cycle testing.

When adjustments are made for specification (the ActiveHybrid7 features a higher level of standard equipment than the standard 750i), in Germany the hybrid is around 5000 Euros more expensive than its 'donor' model.

The hybrid 5 will wear a similar price premium and target similar fuel economy improvements, our insider opined.

"[A fuel economy benefit of] 1.5 to 2.0L/100km should be in the air," he stated.

"Basing the ActiveHybrid model on the volume seller makes sense. It makes the most potential impact on the [average] fleet consumption. It also makes the car more attractive to [a wider range of] buyers."

The all-new 5 Series arrives in Australia in June. It shares much of its technology and its chassis platform (backbone in BMW terms) with the latest 7 Series range. The cars are built on the same production line in Dingolfing, Germany.

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