With the BMW car manufacturer revealing the fresh-BMW X5 in December last year, the Germans now are ready to show off their X6, which was caught in the act through some harsh environments in Sweden.

The second generation Sports Activity Coupe is on some heavy testing in Sweden, as the manufacturer is trying out the durability and the xDrive systems of the X6.

These spied photos reveal an X5-like vehicle, with some headlights coming up front close to the double-kidney grille.

Another thing that might be observed, is the car`s lack of fog lights and small exhaust tips, so we might conclude that the X6 is set to have one of the 3.0-liter model engines and not the V8, without yet being sure of this fact.

The X6 is actually the previous ActiveHybrid model that was on a verge to head towards the production line, but had to be cancelled for unknown reasons.

But the spy shots are a true proof that this time the German luxury car manufacturer will develop a more daring and efficient eDrive car with some “pure-EV range” and “Prius-like” fuel economy.

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Marcus M.

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The post New BMW X6 Spied in Sweden appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

A few days after we got properly familiar with the F30 BMW 3 Series, the Bavarians go ahead and introduce this variant which seems considerably more interesting.

It is the the ActiveHybrid version of the lovely compact executive sedan. I love the figures on it and while the fuel economy is important, it’s not the key.

The overall perks of the F30 BMW 3 Series with a hybrid powertrain go well beyond the obvious dimensions of such cars.

Rather remarkably, the F30 BMW 3 Series ActiveHybrid is the most powerful version of the car you can have so far.

By mating a 335i’s TwinPower Turbo 3.0 liter inline six cylinder engine with an electric motor the final output goes up to 335 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque.

When pushed, the new power team and the eight speed automatic gearbox will get you to the same electronically limited top speed of 155 mph and it can sprint to 60 in just 4.8 seconds.

In a true power crazed stepping over the desire of the smaller people, the big 3 liter high performance 3 Series ActiveHybrid is actually tax exempt in most countries.

Ok, so the F30 hybrid version may be a bit of a poke in the eye for all the politically correct folks but it does actually offer better efficiency and less emissions.

According to the Bavarians, the new version of the car can manage an average of 36.7 mpg on the US cycle and you can drive it on electric power alone for up to 2.5 miles.

The only problem with the F30 BMW 3 Series ActiveHybrid is that it has a starting price of $49.300 USD and that’s not including destination.

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Marcus M.

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The post F30 BMW 3 Series ActiveHybrid introduced appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

Alongside the F10 BMW M5 getting a manual transmission option and the 5 Series’ hybrid version, the Bavarian stand had one extra notable presence.

It was with the BMW 3 Series ActiveHybrid that the Bavarians rounded off their showcase at the North American International Auto Show.

Though the F30 has been announced and showcased for some time now, the hybrid version was unveiled in the US on this occasion.

A hybrid isn’t big news any more, the “basic” small luxury sedan is roughly in the same situation yet the new ActiveHybrid family member has a few stories to tell.

In terms of drivetrain options, you’ll find that the new BMW 3 Series ActiveHybrid is powered by the same basic engine and gearbox as the 335i.

That’ll be a 3.0 liter straight six that’s boosted by TwinPower Turbo and teamed to an eight speed ZF automatic transmission.

In the hybrid however there’s a 55 horsepower electric motor mixed into the equation and the li-ion batteries that wizz it along.

You now get 335 ponies worth of combined power and an estimated fuel economy figure of 36 mpg combined.

This is achieved in the BMW 3 Series ActiveHybrid thanks to so many little details and tweaks most of us will hardly ever notice.

One such story is to be seen in how the new satellite navigation system is connected to the ECU. Using altitude readings, the fuel mixture is adjusted to offer the best possible burn so that nothing is wasted.

It means almost nothing to me, very little to most but will be of great importance to the hypermiling sort that will be interested in buying the BMW 3 Series ActiveHybrid.

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Marcus M.

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The post F30 BMW 3 Series ActiveHybrid shows off in Detroit appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

The Detroit Motor Show was expected to be a bit of a snoozefest yet it’s turning out to be anything but. Apart from recently telling us about the F10 BMW M5 getting a manual, the Bavarians have more to share.

This time however, the focus falls on the more considerate member of the family, the fuel efficiency obsessed F10 BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid model.

Unlike all the places we’ve seen it or heard about it before, we finally get to see a proper price tag for it, one that’s tailored for the American market.

For all its goodness, efficiency and even performance, the F10 BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid isn’t exactly what you’d call cheap. It will feature a MSRP of $61.845 (Destination and Handling charges included) and deliveries should start later in the spring.

Given the new sticker, this means each of the cars made into a hybrid will cost 8720 dollars on top of the standard F10 BMW 535i on which it’s based.

This means it will be a little dicey and that some customers will be put off. After all, the Japanese make hybrids that sit around this size and spec which cost considerably less.

As a reminder, the F10 BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid is animated by a 3.0 liter TwinPower Turbo inline six-cylinder engine teamed with an electric drive system via an eight speed automatic gearbox.

The combination at hand grants owners a total output of 335 horsepower or the ability to travel up to 2.5 miles on batteries alone. No official fuel economy figures are available yet.

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Marcus M.

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The post F10 BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid pricing announced in Detroit appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

The Bavarians have made it official, one of their most important appearances at the Detroit Motor Show in early 2012 will be a new hybrid version of the F30 BMW 3 Series.

Dubbed the 2013 BMW 3 Series ActiveHybrid, it probably won’t get any tech from the Toyota deal, much like Lexus won’t get any diesels from it either.

The new hybrid will stand out thanks to its badges but also to a few other visual hints that are meant to increase fuel efficiency.

Most of the lower body kit receives a few (rather minor) changes that make the 2013 BMW 3 Series ActiveHybrid cut through the air much more cleanly.

Perhaps the most easily noticeable feature of the new hybrid is the new set of alloy wheels. The reversed fan appearance helps cooling of the brakes and lowers the drag coefficient.

Under the skin, the 2013 BMW 3 Series ActiveHybrid is powered by a 3.0 liter straight six cylinder engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology which develops 300 horsepower that’s teamed to an electric motor.

Essentially, it’s the same powerplant as the 335i but the engine was tuned for a more efficient delivery rather than performance.

Helping it along, we find the 55 horsepower electric motor, a start stop system and an automatic eight speed gearbox. It all comes together somehow and BMW claims some pretty impressive results.

The same performance is expected from the 2013 BMW 3 Series ActiveHybrid as the 335i but fuel efficiency is rated at 12% better with a capability of more than 36 mpg.

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Marcus M.

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BMW have announced today that the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Series has received certification from the Internal Revenue Service for a tax credit which goes up to $900 under the Alternative Motor Vehicle provision.

In having done so, both versions of wheelbase of the 2010 BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid join the list of Bavarian creations to qualify for the Alternative Motor Vehicle Tax Credit.

The first of the special German cars to obtain this distinction were the BMW X5 xDrive35d, the BMW Advanced Diesel 335d Sedan and the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid.

The BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is powered by a 4.4L V8 engine that produces 440 horsepower and a peak torque of 475 lb-ft which is mated to a 3-phase synchronous electric motor that produces an additional 15 horsepower and some 41 lb-ft of torque (available from 0 rpm).

The whole setup is teamed with a 8 speed automatic gearbox which will help get the car from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds and up to a top speed of 150 mph (electronically limited) and all of these happen while it achieves an EPA rating of 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.

If I were the Lexus LS600hL I’d be pretty worried, and this is despite the pretty consistent price bump which will take make the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 see list pricing start at $103,125.

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Marcus M.

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The post 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 gets tax credit appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

The F10 BMW 5 Series has one eagerly expected model besides the M5 version.

It is of course, the hybrid that has just been spotted “driving round town” recently. You may note that unlike most BMW cars in testing, this one doesn’t feature heavy camouflage but rather discrete line concealers.

This sort of camouflage is not because BMW don’t really care enough about it any more it’s most likely because they know that enough F10 5 Series have gotten public images so it’s not worth the trouble anymore.

If the exterior may seem familiar the underpinnings of this car however don’t seem to fall under the same etiquette as this car will most likely borrow technology from the ActiveHybrid concept and just as that car the future 5 Series hybrid should be sporting a 3 liter inline six diesel engine teamed up with a 40 kw electric motor.

The eight speed automatic gearbox should also be in the mix in an effort to create a car with efficiency in mind. Some very typical BMW features will be the placement of the lithium ion battery and engine to such relative positions that they don’t spoil the weight distribution.

That electric power may not get you a long way on batteries only but it could give you some extra torque should you need it an overtaking maneuver.

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Marcus M.

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The post Spyshots of the BMW 5 Series Hybrid appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

I have to say that I skipped this video, but at the same time, there were few people talking about it but now I saw it and I would like to share it with you and at the same time to say few words about it.

I want to say at the beginning that the video is cool but it could be much cooler if they would do as they usually make their videos, I mean in a very professional way, it would be better, I think that this video was made in a very short time so they didn’t have time for it.

Anyway, talking about what contains this trailer, it shows a bit of what BMW came at the Geneva Auto Show namely the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept, BMW X6 ActiveHybrid, BMW 1 Series Convertible, BMW M3 Convertible and there will also be some other surprises so if you read this blog, you will find what I’m talking about.

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Marcus M.

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The post Teaser video with BMW at the Geneva Auto Show appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

Phew, at last we stop talking about spy photos, pre launched photos and other things like this. These are the first photos that we post from the Geneva Auto Show and they are in high res mode and as you can see in the title, we’re talking about the BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid which is a concept at the moment.

This BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid Concept comes with a turbocharged inline-six engine and of course that it is combined with the part that makes it hybrid namely an electric engine which is able to develop up to 53 horsepower which is quite a lot but I also think that they need to upgrade these engines, I mean to learn to build much powerful electric engines.

These two engines are “controlled” by an eight speed automatic gearbox transmission. This BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid Concept will get with 10% more distance per gallon.

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Marcus M.

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The post BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid at the Geneva Auto Show appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

If someone would ask me my favorite ActiveHybrid after something like 6 months, it would probably be this BMW ActiveHybrid 5 because I love the BMW 5 Series but at the same time I love the hybrids built by BMW so this would be in the top of my favorite BMW cars.

I also know that there is just one week left until the release at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show. I would also like to tell you that at the moment, this BMW ActiveHybrid 5 remains a concept comparing to BMW ActiveHybrid 7 or BMW ActiveHybrid X6.

People are expecting from this BMW ActiveHybrid 5 to come with a 3.0 liter turbocharged straight-six engine and of course that if it is a hybrid, that engine is combined with a 40 kW electric engine which makes this car to be a perfect city car but also a good car to travel with.

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Marcus M.

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The post Leaked photos with BMW ActiveHybrid 5 appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.