(Image Source: BMW)
 
BY JIM FLINK

Ever driven down the road with one foot on the gas, one foot on the brake?
Then you kinda know how BMW is steering when it comes to hybrids.
Just a few days after killing off one hybrid vehicle, the Bavarians are firing up another.
Here’s USA Today.

“BMW, which only a few years ago didn't seem much interested in hybrids, is about to take its third swipe at them. It's introducing a hybrid based off its popular 5 Series -- the ActiveHybrid 5.”

The 5 follows versions of the 6 and 7, if that makes sense. Autocar reports, the Six went six-feet-under just a few days ago.  Daily Tech says, it looked good on paper, but not on the road.

“The problem for BMW is that the X6 ActiveHybrid had a face only a mother could love and was priced at a jaw dropping $88,900 in the United States.”
 
The 5 will be a little easier on the pocketbook. Easier on the eyes.
And Motor Authority notes -- it’s basically the 7 model with six cylinders instead of 8.  
Oh...and cool features.

“Those include: regenerative charging of the lithium-ion battery during coasting and braking; a start-stop system; an ECO PRO driving mode that relaxes throttle response and shifts and also cuts the engine during coasting at speeds of up to 100 mph; integrated navigation to select the most efficient route; and more.”

But if you’re an Eco-lover -- you’ve already deployed your emergency break.
Torque news has the flashing yellow lights, noting this green car isn’t much of an improvement over the normal BMW5.

“That 535i gets 20mpg around town and 30 on the highway so if the ActiveHybrid version was to see a 10% increase over that...the new 5 Series hybrid would offer something like 22mpg around town and 33 on the open road…while also offering the limited all-electric range.”

That limited range allows you to cruise at up to 37 miles an hour on electric power alone.
And zoom from zero to 60 in 5.7 seconds.  
The 5 series hybrid will be available in March of 2012.
 

Tech News: BMW Unveils 5-series Hybrid

BMW Unveils 5-series Hybrid

October 1, 2011
(1:58)
BMW announced it will roll out a new hybrid based of its popular 5 series called ActiveHybrid 5.
   
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