BMW ActiveHybrid 3 - AutoExpress
The seamless switch between electric and hybrid petrol power is impressive, yet this car is destined to remain an oddity in diesel-dominated markets such as the UK. BMW doesn’t build its hybrids like anyone else. It uses a 3. 0-litre six-cylinder engine in tandem with a 54bhp electric motor for a total of 335bhp and 450Nm of torque. The engine isn’t short of torque, but with the electric motor (integrated into the eight-speed auto gearbox) adding assistance, power delivery is even smoother and packs quite a punch. It’s a shame, then, that our test car, which was fitted with the standard springs and dampers, had a front end that bobbed around, and the car rolled from side-to-side in corners. Because BMW intended the 3 Series to be a hybrid from the outset, the battery pack slots neatly under the boot floor. Despite offering impressive economy given the power on tap, BMW is open about the fact that this car is aimed at petrol-loving markets like the US and Japan. Which is why it only expects to sell 100 cars a year in the UK. I don't get it. The hybrid car does not offer superior performance (accoding to the official figures from. Source: www.autoexpress.co.uk
