2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3: Drive review: Hybrid 3-series is faster than standard ... - AutoWeek
What is it. The ActiveHybrid 3 is BMW's fourth series-production hybrid. After the short-lived X6 ActiveHybrid and the more recently introduced ActiveHybrid 7 and ActiveHybrid 5 , there is now another gasoline-electric-powered BMW to tempt U. S. car buyers. Impressively, the ActiveHybrid 3 is also claimed to return an average 39. 9 mpg on the combined European cycle. As with BMW's previous hybrid models, this car relies on a combination of gasoline and electric power. Being a full hybrid, as opposed to a mild hybrid like some rivals, it can run on either gasoline or electric power alone, or alternatively a combination of both for added performance. When running together, or parallel as it is known in automotive-engineering jargon, the gasoline engine and the electric motor provide a combined 335 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque-33 hp and 37 lb-ft of torque more than the 335i sedan. All of this sounds rather appealing until you learn that the added reserves come with a 320-pound penalty, taking the curb weight of the new BMW up to 3,649 pounds. Source: autoweek.com
