BMW has cautiously entered the hybrid market from the top, writes KYLE FORTUNE
Hybrids. They’re green, right? That’s the thinking at least. But I’m trying to get my head around an electrically assisted BMW X6 which, along with two battery-powered motors, has a 4.4-litre turbocharged V8 petrol engine.
It’s not really the best starting point for an economical machine. The official combined consumption states 9.9l/100km, but driving it in an uncharacteristically restrained fashion, the best I could achieve over a mixed 160km route, was around 13.5l/100km.
The X6 might seem an odd choice for BMW’s toe-dipping hybridisation, but hybrid technology isn’t cheap. So instead BMW has chosen to kit out the X6 as a full hybrid and the 7 Series as a mild hybrid support act. Look at the numbers for either and you might ask what the point is; after all, either model can be had with turbodiesel engines that will do a very impressive job, performance-wise, and return better economy and emissions figures.
Both hybrid models are complex too. The ActiveHybrid X6 uses two electric motors, a clever gearbox and nickel-hydride battery in the boot to allow it to run for up to 2.5 km on electrical power alone – at speeds up to 60km/h. The penalty is over 200kg in weight, performance that’s not as quick against the clock as its V8-only relative (100km/h arriving in 5.6 instead of 5.4 seconds) and a €26,000 premium on the list price. To put that into perspective, that’s around 21,666 litres of petrol.
The ActiveHybrid 7 makes do with just the one electric motor, boosting its own version of the 4.4-litre turbocharged V8 when it’s required and enabling a particularly smooth stop-start operation.
Its premium is around €12,000, though BMW claims it is less than that once the additional specification is taken into consideration – kit you can’t have it without, mind.
Even if you could convince yourself the savings are worthwhile you’d have to accept either of BMW’s new hybrids in left-hand drive, as BMW is not making either for right-hand drive markets.
If you forget about any potential green aspect to this pair of hybrid oddities they’re actually very impressive.
The ActiveHybrid X6 in particular is enjoyable to drive. Not least thanks to the combined 485bhp produced by the V8 and its two electric motors. It’s the quite extraordinary 780Nm of torque that’s the best bit though, giving the X6 an incredible ability to gain speed in any of its seven gears. Resist the temptation to experience all that twisting force and there’s plenty of fun to be had trickling around for as long as possible on electric power alone.
There’s plenty of information via a rev-counter located battery meter and centre-console screen to allow you to monitor all the clever technology underneath you.
There’s the slightest jolt as the V8 kicks in, while the engine cutting off early results in silent gliding up to junctions. The ActiveHybrid 7 isn’t quite so alien, its trick being to give V12-like performance with economy more akin to a V8.
It might not be able to glide around on electricity alone but the lithium ion batteries and that electric motor in its gearbox allow it to accelerate with startling pace.
In either car then you’re not actually doing a great deal to save the planet; if you were serious you’d buy a 320d EfficientDynamics, or at least opt for the turbodiesel versions of either the 7 or X6. But for environmental posturing on a grand scale the hybrids offer few, if any compromises, so long as nobody ever actually asks you just how fuel efficient they are.
The American market will love them, and the trickle-down effect will eventually be felt across the entire line-up. Rolls-Royce’s new Ghost is expected to have much the same mild hybrid system from the 7 ActiveHybrid mated to its V12 engine in a bid to make the numbers associated with it more palatable.
BMW had to start somewhere, and it’s decided to do so at the top. Green then? Not really, but that’s apparently not the point. Just don’t tell anyone.
BMW ACTIVEHYBRID X6
Price:€n/a
Engine:4.4-litre turbocharged petrol full hybrid with two electric motors
Peak power:485bhp
Peak torque:780Nm
Transmission:seven-speed auto, four-wheel drive
Performance:0-100km/h: 5.6 seconds
Top speed:236km/h
Emissions:231g/km CO2
Combined cycle fuel economy:9.9 litres/100km
BMW ACTIVEHYBRID 7
Price:€170,000 – if available
Engine:4.4-litre turbocharged V8 petrol mild hybrid single electric motor assistance
Peak power:465bhp
Peak torque:700Nm
Transmission:eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Performance:0-100km/h: 4.9 seconds
Top speed:250 km/h
Emissions:219 g/km CO2
Combined cycle fuel economy: 9.4 litres/100km