This highly esteemed award recognizes dealerships worldwide who are paving the way for a greener future, while supporting BMW AG’s worldwide commitment to not only be the most innovative automotive manufacturer in the world, but also to tackle the fundamental issues relating to sustainability.

Auto West BMW opened its doors in 1986, however the history of this family-run business dates back to the late 60′s as the original importers of BMWs into Western Canada.

After opening its new state-of-the-art dealership in 2007, Richmond-based Auto West BMW is now considered one of the top dealers in the world, while leading as the most sustainable one.

The dealership group said Joachim Neumann, Founder and President of Auto West BMW and the Auto West Group, is devoted to promoting environmental awareness and sustainability through his dealership network.

Neumann has confronted a wide range of modern challenges at the forefront of a growing ecological battle within the automotive industry.

“This sustainability award plays a crucial role in promoting the principles of environmental responsibility to an industry that’s considered to be very wasteful,” says Neumann. “Auto West Group is committed to developing a greener environment for Canada – one project at a time.”

Auto West BMW has successfully embedded many fascinating sustainability features into their “DNA”, including:

• A green roof concept consisting of 8 gardens with 2,200 plants in total. Maintained by Auto West BMW’s staff-led “Team Green”, includes a community garden which grows vegetables that are donated back to the local food bank in Richmond.
• Building a rooftop honey bee apiary to help combat the worldwide phenomenon of Colony Collapse Disorder. The apiary consists of 5 colonies that house approximately 150,000 bees which pollinate the green roof gardens and surrounding community.
• Installation of BC’s only commercial vertical axis wind turbine, standing 53′ tall and producing up to 3,500 watts of power to create natural energy.
• A series of rooftop solar panels producing 2,300 kWh to help power their facilities and reduce overall power consumption, minimizing their carbon footprint.
• Geothermal heating and cooling technology to provide natural insulation, eliminating harmful chemicals to the environment inherent in HVAC systems, and providing a steady ambient air room temperature.
• Reducing overall water consumption through water recirculation. 90% of storm water and car wash runoff is collected, filtered, and reused during car wash cycles.

Auto West Group’s commitment to sustainability continues beyond BMW.

The dealership group said that in 2012, it opened the largest Mini dealership in Canada – Mini Richmond, who is also taking the sustainability lead in the automotive industry.

With the installation of 168 rooftop solar panels, it is considered the largest solar panel installation on a dealership in Canada.

In addition, a large exterior green wall was installed at MINI Richmond to reduce the temperature within the dealership, generate oxygen, and is perceived as outdoor public art with a honey bee design incorporated through selected flowers and plants.

Reclaimed storm water is also used in the washroom urinals and water closets to irrigate both the green wall and landscape.

Furthermore, to meet the future demand of electric cars, a public EV charging station was recently installed in front of MINI Richmond, furthering Auto West Group’s commitment to support sustainability in their community.

In an effort to continue incorporating green technology within the Auto West Group and serve those who are urban e-motorists, Auto West BMW – one of only six dealerships in Canada with the eligibility to sell the BMW i franchise – is currently undergoing an expansion to accommodate the arrival of the BMW i3 and i8 models.

This will also include the addition of public charging stations with the expected completion of the Auto West BMW i showroom in Fall 2013.

“We have made all of these investments without the expectation of an immediate financial return. This is about being good corporate citizens within our community by doing what is right for the environment, while also setting an example as a sustainable leader in the automotive marketplace,” says Pete Sargent, Project Manager for Auto West Group.

http://youtu.be/P6G8DQ6UVJM

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The purpose of the event was to share ideas and develop new apps in the areas of electro-mobility and sustainability.

The winning app is designed to help electric-car users communicate quickly and simply with one another on an anonymous basis in order to use charging stations efficiently and minimize waiting times.

Eighty software developers and computer programmers participated in the two-day “hack event” held between April 27 and 29 in Mountain View, California, according to BMW.

The event’s main sponsors were the car-sharing service DriveNow and ChargePoint, as well as BMW.

Fifteen 15 apps for smartphones and mobile phones competed for first place in seven award categories.

A total of $3,000 in prize money was awarded to the most practical, creative apps.

BMW said that a widespread problem, currently, is the less-than-optimal utilization of electric-vehicle charging stations, which are often used by only one vehicle for an extended period of time.

A growing concern: electric vehicles may be parked at a charging station during an entire workday… While only needing a couple hours of charge.

The winning apps enable electric-car owners to communicate with one another in order to use charging stations more efficiently and maximize their utilization.

For example: One car is parked at a charging station; the other arrives at the station and needs ten minutes’ worth of electricity to reach its destination. The driver of the second vehicle can use the app on his or her mobile phone to contact the driver of the first car quickly and anonymously to request permission to charge the vehicle for a short time – naturally, with the assurance that the first car will be plugged in again afterwards.

The winning apps can be found through this link: https://www.hackerleague.org/hackathons/sustainability-hackathon-mv/wikipages/511eb98b9989c5b204000016 while blog posts related to the event can be accessed through these: http://tech.jeancarl.com/2013/04/29/bmw-sustainability-hackathon/ and http://www.transportationtechnologyventures.com/blog/?p=445 .

Meanwhile, Chargepoint has uploaded pictures of the event on its corporate Facebook page.

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BMW said this unfiltered information, updated weekly, will help inform consumers’ decision about purchasing an electric vehicle.

The Electronaut Effect features aggregate car data for the 700 BMW ActiveEs – the first fully-electric BMWs – and their drivers, participating in the BMW ActiveE Field Trial that began January 2012.

BMW is presenting this streamlined data in three basic categories: Range (most miles driven in one day), Savings (total money saved), and Environment (gallons of gas not used).

According to BMW, as of today, April 11 2013, Electronauts have driven approximately 6.1 million miles; the most miles driven in one day by a single Electronaut was 367.7.

These ActiveE drivers have already saved more than $740,000 collectively by driving the all-electric cars (calculated by subtracting the money they spent on charging, from the amount they did not spend on gas).  BMW estimates that together, they have saved well over 275,000 gallons of gas.

“The Electronaut Effect is an exciting tool because it offers consumers unvarnished, hard data on the driving performance of our fleet of ActiveE vehicles, providing a very accurate picture of the BMW electric vehicle experience and the benefits of all-electric driving,” said Jacob Harb, head of Electric Vehicle Operations and Strategy, BMW of North America. “This is an important, new resource to help drivers considering an electric vehicle purchase make informed decisions.”

The 700 Electronauts, meanwhile, will have access to a related tool, available at www.BMWActivateTheFuture.com that offers a detailed, more in-depth look at data specific to their BMW ActiveE, as well as to the entire fleet.

Electronauts can see the average number of times he or she charges their ActiveE per day, average remaining charge at the end of the day, and their personal reduction in driving-related carbon footprint.

Electronauts may also choose to opt into a “Current Standings” section that lets them compare select statistics to those of other Electronauts. They can view the top 25 Electronauts in the U.S. for select data points and can see their current ranks for these statistics. Or they can compare West Coast vs. East Coast driving data, such as total miles driven by coast.

Non-Electronauts who visit the www.BMWActivateTheFuture.com site will be able to view the aggregate version of this more in-depth data.

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It is also a moment allowing us a glimpse in how BMW’s green strategy is evolving.

The BMW Group said it has been tirelessly pursuing its “Strategy Number ONE” with great success since 2007, enabling it to achieve the intended impact of becoming significantly more profitable and competitive.

The group also said this allows it to be extremely well placed to meet future challenges.

“We have now successfully implemented the first third of our strategy. All interim targets have been fully attained,” emphasized Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.

Strategy Number ONE has also seen the birth of a host of vehicle concepts – including the BMW i3 – as well as advances in terms of reducing fuel consumption thanks to EfficientDynamics technology.

As from the beginning of 2013, the emissions of 73 BMW Group models do not exceed 140 grams of CO2 per kilometre driven. The equivalent figure five years ago was of only 27 models falling under this threshold.

The average fuel consumption of the fleet is now 5 liters of diesel (47 mpg) and 6.3 liters of gasoline (37.33 mpg) per 100 kilometers driven.

The BMW Group said it will continue its rigorous implementation of Strategy Number ONE through to 2020 and wants to remain on a profitable growth course.

The target for 2016 is to sell more than two million BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles.

Several hundred advance orders received for BMW i3

Electromobility will be very much in the spotlight for the BMW Group in 2013.

“The future belongs to those who dare to venture”, remarked Reithofer. The first pre-series BMW i3 came off the production line in January 2013. This vehicle, which has been specifically designed to run with zero emissions for use in an urban environment, will come onto the market by the end of the year.

“Several hundred advance orders have already been received for the BMW i3”, added Reithofer.

The BMW i3 is designed with a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger compartment, an aluminum chassis, and BMW said it sets new standards in the field of lightweight construction.

The BMW i3 has an approximate range of 150 kilometers (93.2 miles), which – based on experience gleaned from the MINI E and BMW Active E test fleets – is sufficient in most circumstances.

Customers can also opt to increase this capability with a so-called Range Extender.

Production times are reduced significantly by employing unique production methods and a significantly lower number of assembly parts.

The BMW i3 will require only half the time needed to produce a conventional vehicle.

To have any chance of addressing the growing ecological challenges in the world’s metropolitan areas, there is no getting around the use of zero-emission drive technology. “In the medium term, megacities have no choice but to encourage the use of alternative drive systems”, underlined Reithofer.

Electric vehicles in Beijing, for instance, are already exempt from the allocation procedure for number plates and from fees.

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Yesterday BMW Manufacturing announced the successful expansion of the company’s hydrogen fuel-cell material handling equipment across its 4.0 million square foot production facility in Spartanburg, S.C.

In 2010, BMW completed the installation of a hydrogen storage and distribution area near the plant’s Energy Center to power about 100 pieces of fuel cell material handling equipment.

BMW said that the company has now more than doubled its hydrogen-fuel cell fleet to approximately 230 units to service the entire plant’s production and logistics functions.

“BMW continues to complement its sustainable production model by adding alternative, efficient technology, said Josef Kerscher, President of BMW Manufacturing. “Successful implementation, and ultimately expansion, of our hydrogen fuel cell material handling fleet has provided a sustainable energy source that exceeds our expectations.”

The additional usage of the hydrogen fuel cell system was executed by adding two new higher-capacity compressors, new storage tubes and distribution piping, and eight new hydrogen dispensers.

The expanded system will deliver at least 400 kilograms of Hydrogen per day.

BMW estimates that the expanded system will avoid 4.1 million kilowatt per hour per year, up from 1.8 million for the initial hydrogen fuel cell system.

BMW released at the same time a project update to the Landfill Gas-to-Hydrogen Pilot Project.

The first phase of the study, that validated the economic and technical feasibility, began in July 2011. The project has now successfully moved to the second phase of methane-to-hydrogen conversion. The project team, led by South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), is implementing and testing equipment that will monitor the hydrogen purity. To do this, BMW has installed a clean-up system that takes a stream of landfill gas (post-siloxane removal), removes the sulfur and trace contaminants and, ultimately, produces hydrogen via a Steam Methane Reformer (SMR).

“BMW is very pleased with the progress we have been able to achieve in the last 18 months, said Cleve Beaufort, BMW Group’s Energy Manager for the U.S. and Canada.  “The objective of generating renewable hydrogen from methane is proving to be a possible option for BMW and will be transformational for the fuel cell industry.”

Throughout this project, SCRA has been a leading funding and implementation partner. The U.S. Department of Energy has also provided both technical and funding support for the project.

The final phase of this project is scheduled to begin in late 2013. At that time, BMW will conduct side-by-side trials of material handling equipment fueled by landfill gas derived hydrogen versus commercially sourced hydrogen.

For their efforts in on-site energy production, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently named BMW Manufacturing the second largest Green Power Partner. Green Power rankings recognize U.S. businesses and communities that are making investments in on-site power generation.

BMW said its U.S. plant currently produces 38 percent of its electrical requirements on-site, mostly from the landfill gas-to-energy program.

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First of all, BMW made it official: the i3 will be available this year in Europe.

In the words of BMW, we “will start supplying customers with driver-friendly, premium-quality electric mobility later this year with the BMW i3, whose technology is a response to the social, ecological and economic challenges of our times.”

Secondly, BMW revealed interesting bits of data from what the company learned through customer use of the BMW ActiveE and MINI E vehicles in Asia, Europe and the USA.

The distances covered by the electric vehicles showed very little difference from the distances covered by conventional cars, at somewhat over 40 kilometers (25 miles) a day on average.

On average, the pilot customers charged their vehicle two to three times a week, for the most part at home or at their workplace.

At the start of testing, more than 70 percent of users said that access to public charging stations was very important to them. In actual practice, however, public infrastructure was used for less than 10 percent of all charging.

Based on the field trial results, BMW i’s division said it set out to design a BMW eDrive powertrain for the BMW i3 which in typical commuting use between home and workplace would only require the battery to be recharged once every two to three days.

The BMW i3 to be commercialized later this year will go beyond this target, with a range of between 130 and 160 kilometers (80 to 100 miles) in day-to-day operation. This will also allow it to cope comfortably with out-of-town journeys.

An interesting fact BMW revealed is that the i3 will be powered by a specially developed high-voltage lithium-ion battery with an energy output, and thus the range of the vehicle, less affected by fluctuations in temperature than is typical of such batteries today.

BMW said the technology behind this is an intelligent heating/cooling system which always keeps the battery at an optimal operating temperature. According to BMW, this improves the everyday practicality, stable performance and life expectancy of the battery.

A further priority in designing the BMW i3, said BMW, was to reduce the energy consumption of electrical components. The cabin heating operates on the heat pump principle, which results in 30 percent energy savings in city driving compared with a conventional electrical heating system, while the internal and external lighting uses energy-saving LEDs.

Finally, the German company said the BMW i3 will also be the world’s first electric vehicle to feature full connectivity and will consequently be equipped with BMW i ConnectedDrive services catering specifically to the needs of electric mobility.

BMW described these functions as providing drivers with a realistic range estimate for their journey before they even set out. The internet-enabled navigation system is based on a dynamic range display which takes into account all the relevant parameters for the planned route and is therefore able to provide precise, reliable range predictions. In addition to the battery charge level, driving style, use of electric convenience systems and choice of drive mode, the calculations also take into account route topography and the current traffic situation. The system can identify energy-intensive uphill gradients on the route ahead and reduces the range computation accordingly. The same goes for energy-depleting stop-go conditions or traffic jams, since detailed real-time traffic data is also taken into account.

The BMW i3 can also be supplied with an optional range extender, which increases the driving range to approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles).

For trips where the autonomy of an BMW i3 would not cut it, BMW i will offer additional mobility modules allowing even longer distances to be covered – for example a conventional BMW vehicle can be provided on a given number of days per year.

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As for squeezing some additional miles-per-gallon, the hybrid 7 has an EPA estimated fuel economy of 17/24 city/highway and 20 mpg combined for both the standard- and long-wheelbase model. In comparison, the standard-sized 750i is EPA rated at 15/22/17; the long-wheelbase model is 14/22/17. That’s nearly an 18 percent improvement in fuel economy, a notable achievement for a car that weighs between 275 and 450 pounds more than its non-hybrid counterparts.

The ActiveHybrid 7, like the ActiveHybrid X6 and recently introduced ActiveHybrid 5, is the result of a BMW philosophy called “EfficientDynamics” that has become a mantra that all of its engineers march to. In simple terms it is the pursuit of an athletic driving experience while simultaneously lowering consumption and emissions.

EfficientDynamics covers every conceivable aspect of an automobile, including electrification, with the eventual goal of emission-free driving pleasure in the form of a combustion engine fueled by hydrogen. In the midterm of reaching that goal, hybrid and electric technology will play a significant role in increasing efficiency.

Since its introduction as a 2010 model, the ActiveHybrid 7 has not had any exterior or interior styling changes. For the 2012 model year, the leather dashboard, head-up display, and active and ventilated front seats are options rather than standard features. The standard-wheel base model is priced starting at $97,000; the extended-wheelbase model starts at $101,000.

Mild Hybrid

The BMW 7’s hybrid system cannot propel the car by electric power and therefore is considered a “mild hybrid.” Similar to Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system, the ActiveHybrid 7 adds electric boost to the gasoline engine during acceleration and the engine shuts down when the car comes to a stop.

Under the ActiveHybrid 7’s hood resides a tweaked version of the engine that powers the standard BMW 750i, a twin turbocharged direct-injection 4.4-liter V8. The engine’s output is 440 horsepower and 480 pounds-feet of torque – that’s 40 additional horsepower and 15 more pound-feet of torque than the same V8 powering the 750i. A 15-kilowatt (20 horsepower equivalent) electric motor is placed between the engine and a special eight-speed transmission’s torque converter. Electricity for the motor is provided by a compact 120-volt lithium-ion battery pack that self-charges with power reclaimed from braking and deceleration. The engine and motor team up to produce an impressive 455 horsepower and 515 pound-feet of torque, numbers that approach the V12 powered 760i.

Obviously the additional power the ActiveHybrid 7 has over the 750i doesn’t all come from the hybrid system’s 20 horsepower electric motor. BMW won’t reveal any massaging of the V8 engine, but the electrification allowed engineers to discard the starter, alternator and the belt driving the air conditioner’s compressor.

Surprisingly, the power steering still uses the engine to pump its hydraulics rather than switching to an electric power steering system. When the hybrid start/stop function shuts off, it also shuts off the power steering. This makes low-speed stop-and-go driving frustrating.

While the start/stop function is responsible for most of the city driving fuel economy gains, the eight-speed transmission (two more gears than other 7-Series models) plays a big role in both city and highway driving. Tall gears bolster highway numbers to 24 mpg, whereas more choices of gears allow the engine to operate more efficiently through its range of speeds.

Dynamic, Elegant Luxury

Distinguished by long, flowing, dynamically elegant shapes, the ActiveHybrid 7’s look is unmistakably BMW. Leading the way is the Bavarian automaker’s signature twin kidney grilles inspired by the CS Concept. They are large, bold and protrude in a shark-like manner that renders them imposing. On either side, expressive xenon headlamps have LED “eyebrows” that also recall the CS Concept.

The hood is devoid of lines or creases, save for the familiar BMW power bulge. In profile, the hood flows into the sharply raked front roof pillars and the roofline sweeps towards the rear, culminating in BMW’s now signature Hofmeister kink – a term for the counter curve at the base of the rear roof pillar as it meets the body. The long-wheelbase Hybrid 7 has a different roofline than the standard-wheelbase model. It purges the awkward stretched look that plagues other such cars.

For what would otherwise be a broad expanse of sheet metal, the sides have two distinct character lines. The first starts gracefully from the headlamps and then dramatically flows along the shoulder line toward the rear, tidily incorporating the door handles along the way. The second, more subtle line begins from the chromed side-marker lights on the front fender and gracefully fluxes to the bottom of the doors. Smooth contours along the side accentuate the wheels, while the rear emanates power combined with sportiness. The design genius is, all of this works together to hide the vast girth of the car.

Separating the ActiveHybrid 7 from the rest of the 7 Series models are hybrid-specific badges on the rear roof pillars and back of the rear deck lid.

Inside the hybrid, it’s primarily BMW 7 Series business as usual – luxurious efficiency. All materials, a mix of fine leather and polished wood, are first rate. The dashboard takes its design direction from the clean lines of modern furniture and features a black panel display, which creates an instrument cluster out of what is actually a high-resolution screen. Like its gasoline brethren the ActiveHybrid 7 is a driver-first car, with basic, yet splendid, analog gauges.

BMW’s standard menu-driven “iDrive” system has finally been overhauled making it less baffling to operate. It still operates by rotating and nudging a knob-like joystick on the center console, but now features shortcut buttons for controlling the audio and navigation systems, as well as a completely new graphical interface on the LCD display.

In Europe, cars like the 7-Series are referred to as “executive saloons” and are often used as limousines. Indeed, the additional 5.5 inches added to the wheelbase of the extended-length model seems to provide acres of space for rear seat passengers. And to pamper them, buyers can order a center-console refrigerator, a DVD system with screens mounted behind the front seatbacks that are large enough to rival some laptops, and individual bucket seats that are heated, cooled and recline, and include a massaging function.

The 2012 ActiveHybrid 7 offers nearly every comfort and convenience feature the automotive world has to offer, either as standard or optional equipment. Standard are xenon headlamps, parking distance control, remote keyless entry with push-button ignition, leather upholstery, a five square-foot panoramic moonroof and a voice-activated GPS navigation system with a wide 9.5-inch dashboard-mounted color LCD screen. A premium audio system with 15 speakers and a 600-watt amplifier is also standard.

Beyond that, the sky’s the proverbial limit, with a long list of options. For example, the front seats can include optional “active” bottom cushions that inflate and deflate to help prevent lower back pain. The car can be fitted with video cameras at the front bumpers that provide a left-right view of what’s approaching from the side of the car to make pulling into traffic from a sight-obstructed driveway or street safer.

An optional head-up display projects the car’s speed, navigation instructions and other information onto the windshield in the driver’s line of sight, while an available Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection system uses an infrared camera to display a negative-image view of what’s beyond the car’s headlamps.

The only downside to the hybrid version compared to the gasoline models is a slightly smaller trunk. Like most hybrid cars, the battery pack is housed in the trunk, reducing the space by one cubic foot to 13 – still enough room for four large golf bags.

The Luxo Hybrid For You?

Needless to say, the 2012 ActiveHybrid is not within the realistic budget of most of the population – it takes a lot of greenbacks to purchase a green BMW 7 Series sedan. But what you get for the dollars spent is not only the “Ultimate Driving Machine,” but also the ultimate in refined luxury and a stunning sedan that delivers fuel economy that just a few years ago was not possible.

For discriminating buyers who like a dab of hybridness with their mounds of horsepower and luxury there are other vehicles to test drive. The Lexus LS 600h L offers the same EPA 20 mpg combined fuel economy as the BMW, but it is only available in long-wheelbase form and the $112,750 price is daunting. Another consideration is Mercedes-Benz’s S400 Hybrid. It doesn’t offer a stretched-wheelbase model and doesn’t come close to the performance levels of the Bimmer, however, it has a more luxurious interior and the V-6 hybrid powertrain has an EPA combined rating of 21 mpg.

While it doesn’t have quite the cachet of other luxury automakers, Infiniti’s M35h shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s a wonderfully designed automobile and the company recently announced the addition of an extended-length version. The hybrid M delivers nimble handling and spirited acceleration plus, the EPA combined 29 mpg rating trumps the others. Perhaps the biggest reason for giving the Infiniti a long, hard look is the $53,700 base price.

The ActiveHybrid 7 is thrifty enough with fuel to make one forget there is 455 horsepower under the long hood. And while it doesn’t have the fuel economy of countless other cars, the hybrid powertrain does nudge the big sedan up a little bit, and every little bit helps.

Reviews

The hybrid 7 is a nicer drive than the V12. Its lighter front end improves agility and it comes to a halt in near-silence — the engine stops, and the continuing whirr of cooling and A/C systems is almost drowned by surrounding traffic. The throttle response is sharp too. And who’d say no to the additional fuel range.
Motor Trend

Hybrid operation in this electrified 7-series is mostly unobtrusive. Road-blurring acceleration-this ain’t your father’s hybrid-leads to high-speed serenity, although wind noise is a bit high.
Car and Driver

With it all comes BMW 7-Series comfort, elegance and opulence—four-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with plush leather seats, rich wood-grain accents, ambient interior lighting for night driving, onboard navigation with a high-definition backup camera, and myriad active and passive safety technologies.
Washington Post

Prices are manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) at time of publication and do not include destination charges, taxes or licensing.

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Today BMW launched its i8 Concept Spyder during the Auto China 2012 in Beijing. The rear end of the car was showcasing another bit of news: the eDrive badge.

This badge, BMW says, will identify the drive technology for all electric and plug-in hybrid cars. In BMW’s language, “eDrive” includes all components of the electric drivetrain: the electric motor developed in-house by BMW, the lithium-ion battery, and the intelligent motor management system.

The company’s stated goal while applying and developing this technology is to ensure that electromobility with BMW eDrive offers a unique experience. This, BMW says, is because the full torque of the electric motor is available from a standing start and the acceleration unfolds continuously in thoroughbred electric vehicles until the top speed is attained.

BMW’s vehicles with eDrive technology are therefore said to be extremely agile and offer enormous driving pleasure. The lithium-ion battery cells and the intelligent motor management system also offer a substantial increase in range and power for the vehicle.

Today’s BMW i8 Concept Spyder introduction follows the presentation of the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept.

The BMW i8 Concept Spyder is a plug-in hybrid powered by a drivetrain combining a high-performance electric motor and a combustion engine. The lithium-ion battery supplying the motor with power can be recharged in an extremely short space of time from any domestic power socket. The result is a combined system output of up to 354 horsepower.

The 131 horsepower electric motor on the front axle works in tandem with a turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine sending 223 horsepower through the rear wheels. Both units are in-house BMW Group developments.

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Au contraire.

The Bavarian automaker is acutely aware of its fiercely loyal, but highly discerning, customer base and will not sacrifice the performance personality that has long been a part of BMW’s DNA. To protect its franchise, the company has adopted a philosophy called “EfficientDynamics” that has become a mantra that all of its engineers march to. It’s a big word but in simple terms it is the pursuit of an athletic driving experience while simultaneously lowering consumption and emissions.

EfficientDynamics covers every conceivable aspect of an automobile, including electrification, with the eventual goal of emission-free driving pleasure in the form of a combustion engine fueled by hydrogen. In the midterm of reaching that goal, hybrid technology will play a significant role in increasing efficiency.

BMW’s first foray into hybrids was the 2010 ActiveHybrid X6. Discontinued for the 2012 model year, the nearly $90,000 crossover featured a 400-horsepower V8 and employed a two-mode hybrid system jointly developed with General Motors and the then DaimlerChrysler. Fuel economy was an un-hybrid-like 17/18 city/highway. Last year saw the entry of the $97,000 ActiveHybrid 7. Utilizing a mild hybrid system (the electric motor only assists the gas engine, it doesn’t propel the vehicle on its own), the flagship sedan rewards its well-heeled owners with 17/24 mpg numbers compared to 15/22 for the gas engine model.

For 2012, BMW takes its next hybrid step with the ActiveHybrid 5. Think of it as a 535i with improved fuel economy and fewer emissions that doesn’t give up any of the performance or driving dynamics. The EPA has estimated the ActiveHybrid5 to achieve 23 mpg city, 30 on the highway, and 26 combined.

Available in one very well equipped trim level, with plenty of options boxes to check, the 2012 ActiveHybrid 5 has a base price of $60,950.

The Hybrid Drivetrain

The first BMW 5 Series sedan introduced to the U.S. in 1975 was powered by an inline six-cylinder engine, a tradition that continues with the ActiveHybrid 5. Re-engineered last year, the six, known as the N55, was selected as a WardsAuto 10 Best Engines two years in succession – an award highly coveted by auto manufacturers. About the N55, editors concluded that, “BMW is so good at inline six-cylinder engines that just about every other automaker has surrendered the niche to the Bavarians.”

Utilizing a single, twin-scroll turbocharger, the 3.0-liter engine produces 300 horsepower – 100 horsepower per liter – at 5,800 rpm and 300 pounds-feet of torque from 1,200 to 5,000 rpm. With direct injection, an improved variable valve timing system and other refinements, the redesigned engine is 15 percent more fuel efficient, with lower emissions than its predecessor with the same output. Employed in the 2012 530i, the gasoline engine powered car has an EPA estimated fuel economy of 21/31 city/highway and 25 mpg combined.

Joining forces with the inline six, to enhance both efficiency and BMW’s hallmark driving experience, is a liquid-cooled electric motor that produces 54 horsepower and 155 pounds-feet of torque. Replacing the torque converter in the eight-speed automatic transmission, the motor combined with the gas engine puts out a lusty 335 horsepower and 330 pounds-feet of torque. According to BMW, electrons from the 1.35-kW-hour lithium-ion battery located in the trunk can move the ActiveHybrid 5 on electricity alone up to a speed of 37 mph. The battery can store enough energy for an all-electric driving range of about 2.5 miles at an average speed of 22 mph.

Similar to Porsche and Volkswagen hybrids, the 5’s hybrid system has a multiplate clutch pack between the engine and transmission. One clutch separates the engine from the motor; the other separates the motor from the rest of the drivetrain (necessary for the electric motor to restart the gas engine when required). From a stop, mash the go pedal to the floor and the engine and motor combined will accelerate the ActiveHybrid 5 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, the same as the gas-powered model. When cruising, up to 100 mph, lift your foot off the pedal and the second clutch decouples the engine completely when the car is coasting. Engineers refer to this as “sailing,” and the result is increased highway fuel efficiency. At red lights, Motor Trend says the system’s “auto starting and stopping is utterly seamless.”

As in other BMWs, the ActiveHybrid has the automaker’s Driving Dynamics Control system with four selectable modes: Comfort, Sport, Sport plus and Eco Pro. The first three configure the chassis, steering, engine and transmission for different driving conditions, while Eco Pro adjusts electronic throttle mapping and transmission shift points to optimize fuel efficiency.

Conservative, Outside And In

Compared to the previous generation car, the restyled sixth-generation 5-Series is a bit on the conservative side, but maintains the archetypal BMW style of a long hood, short overhangs and coupe-like roofline. The car assimilates visual cues from the two sedans that flank it on either side in BMW’s lineup. From the larger 7-Series flagship, it borrows a striking presentation of BMW’s hallmark twin-kidney grille with alluring LED headlamps adeptly integrated into the hood and front fenders. Influence from the smaller 3-Series is evidenced in the body-side styling, including a finely chiseled character-line that runs the length of the car at door-handle height. Backside, the rump gracefully blends influences from both cars that features L-shaped LED taillights.

Of course it wouldn’t be a BMW without the Hofmeister kink – a term for the counter curve at the base of the rear roof pillar as it meets the body. First introduced in 1961, the design was penned by Wilhelm Hofmeister, the chief body design stylist at BMW at the time.

The hybrid looks little different from its gasoline engine companions – ActiveHybrid 5 lettering on the C-pillars, galvanized kidney grille slats, matte chrome tailpipes and an available Bluewater metallic paint color. Exclusive are optional 18-inch “Streamline” light-alloy wheels.
Inside the four-door’s well-appointed cabin, the 5 mimics the visual and conservative luxury appeal of the 7-Series. Interior appointments are first-cabin, with real wood trim, metal accents and soft leather. The seats are firm, supportive and well bolstered.

Everything about this interior communicates high style with an instrument panel design that is clean and simple. The reviled iDrive control interface is now easier to use, while still serving its original purpose of clearing the dash of a hodgepodge of buttons and knobs.

Affluent high-tech mavens will be delighted with the wealth of advanced technology available on the ActiveHybrid 5. For example, the standard navigation system is linked to the hybrid drivetrain and can analyze topographical data (if available) to maximize fuel efficiency on planned routes. If the system determines that an uphill climb is followed by a notable decline, it will use electric power to boost performance on the way up, knowing that it can recapture energy on the way down.

Other technological assets include lane change warning, lane departure warning, rearview camera, parking assistant, night vision with pedestrian recognition and a head-up display. Integration of Apple’s iPhone or other smart phones and music players are also available.

Economics

To state the obvious, the ActiveHybrid 5 is an expensive proposition. The base MSRP is $60,950 – $8,450 more than the 535i – and can easily and quickly climb from there when piling on the options. But for that price, not only are buyers getting the BMW prestige factor, they are also getting the “Ultimate Driving Machine” reputation. There’s enough cachet and performance to make any upwardly mobile executive consider joining the hybrid club.

Reviews

A romp on the throttle will have most convinced that not all hybrids are for hypermiling sissy-foots. BMW’s projected 0-60-mph time of 5.7 seconds indeed falls to the conservative side, though it’s no surprise (to me) that the chassis does as well. Though the electronic power steering and run-flat tires leave something to be desired, this has less to do with the hybridization of the 5 as much as it does the 5 Series of this generation.
Road &Track

The ActiveHybrid 5 drives exactly like a 535i. The added oomph from the electric drive system – which bolsters total power output from 300 to 335 hp, and torque from 300 pound feet to 332 – negates the roughly 300-pound weight penalty of the hybrid. BMW’s 0-60 figure of 5.7 seconds for this car exactly matches that of the 535i.
Automobile Magazine

Accelerate in a more BMW-like manner and the 302-hp six awakens and silkily couples (via a clutch) to the motor. Crudely clomp your foot down and the combination will twirl the needle to 60 mph in a claimed 5.9 seconds. A good number, but one that undersells the performance of this car, because the electric motor’s instant response gives the combination a viciously sharp edge.
Motor Trend

Prices are manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) at time of publication and do not include destination charges, taxes or licensing.

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Electrified cars may be nearly silent, but that doesn’t mean their makers still don’t want them to create a lot of buzz. As a case in point is the BMW i8 Concept Spyder plug-in hybrid revealed over the weekend ahead of the New York Auto Show.

The regular i8 Concept has been called a supercar by writers, and looks the part, but BMW is calling it a sports car, as also is true of this Spyder version, and its performance numbers are more in line with that genre.

The 3,197 pound vehicle puts out a total of 354 horsepower when one adds up the 131 horses from the electric motor on the front axle and the 223 horsepower fed to the rear wheels from the motorcycle-level-displacement 1.5-liter engine.

Note stowed away electric kickboards in back under glass.

Of course this automobile’s diminutive gasoline engine is turbocharged, unlike production motorcycle practice, but that’s mighty small for a 1.5-ton car. Coupling it with electric assist means it can be a fuel sipper when it wants to be, and a go-fast, look-at-me machine the rest of the time.

Time from zero-to-sixty mph is around 4.9 seconds and top speed is governed to 155 mph for the all-wheel-drive Spyder. Its weight distribution is 50:50, and it about doubles the power output of a Chevy Volt, packs in every conceivable technology BMW can think of, and comes in weighing 550 pounds less. But then, this is about what one would expect from a car that will cost no less than $140,000.

This car is proof that you can have it all, if you want to ante up. When not testing its speed capabilities, early adapters for BMW’s i sub brand can alternately coddle this ultimate among Ultimates up to 19 miles in all-electric mode, and achieve up to 94 mpg on the European test cycle.

Nineteen miles of electric range is a good deal shy of the Chevy Volt’s potential, and not much more than that of a plug-in Prius, but obviously BMW knows that, and this car is about more than mere practicality.

The i8 Spyder is a concept in e-mobility, so we will have to wait and see whether it makes it to production, and if so, in what numbers and at what price. In any event, a pair of e-kickboards as pictured are built in.

Among this styling exercise’s most eye-catching features are the upward-swiveling, windowless doors and a range of purpose-oriented on-board equipment including electric kickboards stowed under a transparent tailgate.

Did we say it was not only about practicality? Those two electric kickboards don’t come with the Volt or Prius, so maybe this concept has some functionality beyond the norm after all.

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