German Hybrids: Coming Thick And Fast
Published February 3, 2009
Just five years ago, only Toyota and Honda offered hybrid gas-electric vehicles—the Prius and Insight, respectively. Now, there are more than a dozen carmakers—including Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and Volkswagen—that offer, or have plans for, hybrids. Here’s a roundup of news just over the last few days about hybrids coming from the homeland of Rudolph Diesel.
Audi Q5 Hybrid (2010)
Audi Q5 Hybrid
At last month’s Detroit Auto Show, Audi announced that it would offer a Q5 Hybrid. Hybrid versions of the Q5 and Q7 have been on and off the table several times in the past year. Now, it’s back on. The new small sport utility goes on sale in the US next month with a gasoline engine; the hybrid will follow for 2011. Audi still strongly prefers diesels to cut consumption and emissions, since they cost less to develop and build than hybrids. Its lukewarm attitude surfaces in a quote from Wolfgang Hatz, head of powertrain development for the VW group. “We have to do hybrids to show people that we are able to do them,” he said, noting the Q5 would compete with the Lexus RX450h. We’ll see if Audi takes its hybrids seriously.
BMW 7-Series ActiveHybrid
BMW 7-Series ActiveHybrid
The maker of “ultimate driving machines” will offer a mild hybrid sedan, the
3 years ago
We need more fun station wagons!
I still want Mercedes-Benz to bring over the E320 BlueTec wagon!
and four-cylinder models as well!
BMW needs to bring over
M5 wagon
M3 wagon
335d wagon
535d wagon
four-cylinder models
4-door hatchback 1-series
GM needs to make
Two-Mode Malibu hybrid
Two-Mode Cobalt with 5-speed and sunroof and folding backseat
Two-Mode Aveo5
we need these cars NOW!
3 years ago
DIESEL HYBRID PLUG IN W/ SOLAR PANEL ON ROOF ---
The above described vehicle seems to me ---
would get maximum fuel and energy efficiency.
Does anyone know -- if this type of vehicle
is being worked on????
![reply Report this page](http://www.hybridcars.com/vehicle/bmw-activehybrid-7.html">7-Series ActiveHybrid</a>, to face off against the Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid. Like the Benz, it will use a lithium ion battery pack to add <a href="/stop-start-engine">stop-start capability</a> to its V8 engine, for about a 15 percent bump in fuel economy. BMW is now just finishing up with <a href="http://www.worldcarfans.com/9090130.031/bmw-7-series-hybrid-spied" target="blank" rel="nofollow">prototype testing</a>.</p>
<h2>BMW X6 ActiveHybrid</h2>
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<img src="/files/bmw-x6-hybrid-610.jpg" alt="BMW X6 ActiveHybrid" title="BMW X6 ActiveHybrid" />
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BMW X6 ActiveHybrid
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<p>With a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, BMW’s X6 “sport utility coupe” has always been a huge gas-guzzler. To raise its fuel economy by up to 20 percent, BMW will fit the Two-Mode Hybrid system it jointly developed with General Motors, Daimler, and Chrysler. Coming this fall as a 2010 model, the fast, heavy, and oddly shaped <a href="/concept-hybrids/bmw-x6-hybrid.html">X6 ActiveHybrid</a> still won’t break 20 miles a gallon, but it gives BMW a competitor for archrival Mercedes-Benz’s ML450 BlueHybrid (see below). </p>
<h2>Mercedes-Benz ML450 BlueHybrid</h2>
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<img src="/files/mercedes-ml-450-Hybrid-610.jpg" alt="Mercedes-Benz ML450 BlueHybrid" title="Mercedes-Benz ML450 BlueHybrid" />
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Mercedes-Benz ML450 BlueHybrid
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<p>Germany’s largest luxury marque already said its <a href="/vehicle/mercedes-benz-s400-hybrid.html">S400 BlueHybrid</a>—which uses its battery and motor just for stop-start ability—is headed for the US this fall. It will pair that with a full-hybrid version of the ML sport utility built in Alabama, to use the GM/Daimler/BMW/Chrysler Two-Mode Hybrid transmission. (It also offers a diesel, the <a href="/vehicle/mercedes-ml-320-cdi.html">ML320 CDI Bluetec</a>.) Now <a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/02/03/spy-shots-mercedes-benz-ml450-bluehybrid-spotted-in-the-wild/" target="blank" rel="nofollow">spy shots of a prototype vehicle</a> have appeared on the web. With luck, Benz buyers will never know this is the same system used in such plebeian vehicles as the <a href="http://www.hybridcars.com/trucks/gm-hybrid-pickup-trucks.html">Chevrolet Silverado</a> Hybrid pickup truck.</p>
<h2>Volkswagen Touareg V6 TSI Bluemotion (prototype)</h2>
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<img src="/files/vw-touareg-hybrid-610.jpg" alt="Volkswagen Touareg V6 TSI Bluemotion" title="Volkswagen Touareg V6 TSI Bluemotion" />
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Volkswagen Touareg V6 TSI Bluemotion
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<p>As part of a slew of clean-car announcements, VW released details of a <a href="http://www.hybridcars.com/vehicle/volkswagen-touareg-hybrid.html">hybrid Touareg</a> it’s now testing. When the big sport utility is completely redesigned for 2010, it will add a hybrid variant to the current gasoline and diesel offerings. A 38-kilowatt electric motor is mounted between the supercharged 333-horsepower V6 engine and a new 8-speed automatic transmission. The company claims all-electric running up to 30 miles per hour, and 26 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving, a 17 percent increase. It also claims equal performance to the V8 version and towing capacity up to 7,100 pounds, besting even GM’s full-size <a href="/suvs-minivans/chevy-tahoe-hybrid.html">Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid</a>.</p>
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Lost Prius to wife </div>
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<div class="posted"><p>3 years ago</p></div>
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<p>With a quick look at the quoted percent increases in mpg, if everyone would buy one of these or something comparable, the USA could cut it gas consumption by ~15% and still have people providing taxes revenues through speeding tickets.</p>
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<a href="/user/27026" rel="nofollow">Shines</a> </div>
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<div class="posted"><p>3 years ago</p></div>
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<p>except for the BMW 7 $erie$ mild hybrid these are all SUVs.<br />
Everyone is alot of people to be buying SUVs...<br />
Will any one of these cost less than $50000?</p>
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<a href="/user/26998" rel="nofollow">Boom Boom</a> </div>
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<div class="posted"><p>3 years ago</p></div>
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<p>I guess the Germans are betting that wealthy Americans can still afford SUVs but will want to feel a little "greener" about their conspicuous consumption. I think they){kind=link}
3 years ago
Germans are quite good on publicity.
None of these is to be mass produced.