Autoblog

2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3

Matt Davis — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, BMW, First Drives

For Those Who Want Their Top Trim 3 Series Greener

The business case is pretty simple: BMW wants a green (or blue, if you like) "liaison" line of models between its standard lineup of cars and the upcoming mega-wow i models. This maximizes choices, fills all niches, and buys time while BMW waits to get those i cars just right before the start of deliveries.

These ActiveHybrid full parallel-hybrid electrics are also acting as the closest BMW can get to its amazing range of turbocharged diesel motors that not enough people want in North America and Asia. In European terms, there is no business case for these hybrid cars apart from curious and cash-heavy early technology adopters, since the EU is awash in BMW's wonderful oil-burners. Those beloved turbocharged diesels would be a far better product in North America and Asia as well, but, hey, let's not get all pipedream-y, now. And, no, we're not trolling here.

So BMW has created a lineup of pretty darn good heavier and pricier models, coining the new brand word ActiveHybrid with versions of the X6, 7 Series, 5 Series and now the 3 Series, called "F30h" internally in this case. The efficiencies gained by this powertrain are fairly good as well, so we'll try tempering our doubts.

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2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #311

Dan Roth — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:40:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Podcasts, BMW, Buick, Ford, Lincoln, Subaru

LA Auto Show, Forza Horizon, Lincoln Motor Company

Episode #311 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and George Kennedy talk about the Los Angeles Auto Show and the big deal Ford is making over its re-launch of Lincoln as Lincoln Motor Company. Also this week, an interview with Turn 10 Studios Creative Director Dan Greenawalt about Forza Horizon. It's a extra-value-length podcast this week. For those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #311:

Topics:

In the Autoblog Garage:
2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3
2013 Buick LaCrosse Touring
2013 Subaru Outback

Hosts: Dan Roth, Zach Bowman, George Kennedy

Runtime: 02:05:19

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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #311

Autoblog Podcast #311 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW ActiveHybrid 3 is an efficient use of 340 hp

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Luxury

We've learned to expect that hybrid vehicles will produce lower emissions and fuel-consumption scores than their standard gasoline-burning siblings. What we generally don't expect, however, is for that same hybrid to be quicker to 60 than its turbocharged brother or for it to make more overall horsepower.

Such is the case with the BMW ActiveHybrid 3, which offers up 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque from its 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline six and electric motor combination - useful gains from the 300 hp and 300 lb-ft in the 335i. Those added ponies allow the Hybrid 3 to hit 62 miles per hour in just 5.3 seconds, a .2-second improvement, according to the automaker, over the thirstier 335i.

BMW says the Hybrid 3 can travel up to 2.5 miles on electricity alone at speeds of up to 46 miles per hour, though not at the same time, of course, and fuel efficiency of about 40 miles per gallon on the EU test cycle. Expect the U.S. EPA figure to vary from that figure.

A lithium ion battery pack resides in the trunk, and it's made up of 96 individual cells with a rated output of 675 Wh. Power is sent to the rear wheels from the dual drivetrain through an eight-speed automatic gearbox that shares its outer casing with the 55-hp electric motor. Naturally, there's a rather prominent badge on the C-pillar displaying the car's fuel-saving credentials, as you can see in our image gallery above.

Full details can be found in the press release below, but there's still no word on when we can expect to see the ActiveHybrid 3 in the States or what it may cost if and when it arrives.

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BMW ActiveHybrid 3 is an efficient use of 340 hp originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 nav system uses altitude to optimize hybrid efficiency

Jeff Sabatini — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, BMW

Somewhat lost in the fanfare of BMW introducing a hybrid version of its best-selling 3 Series at the Detroit Auto Show was a brief mention of its new navigation technology. The 2012 ActiveHybrid 3 will be the first hybrid to use its nav system to help predict the best time to use and recharge its battery. This will go well beyond currently available navigation technology that plots economical travel routes based on traffic and speed limits, also incorporating altitude, final destination and other real-time data to wring the most out of those electrons.

For example, suppose there's a big hill on your route. Since the 3 Series hybrid "knows" you will be descending, and thus afforded a good opportunity for recharging, it can drain more of the battery on the way up. BMW says it is still working on the system, but it will be included as a standard feature on the ActiveHybrid 3, and will eventually spread to the ActiveHybrid 5 and other hybrid models. While we don't have much in the way of details, the opportunity here seems pretty vast, effectively allowing the car to hypermile for you.

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2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 nav system uses altitude to optimize hybrid efficiency originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed, Again: Next BMW 3 Series to gain hybrid version

Zach Bowman — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Europe, Japan, Technology, BMW, Luxury

When we first saw the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Concept and its conceptual 5 Series sibling, we immediately got the sneaking suspicion that the car wouldn't be the last Bavarian with a battery pack. Now it looks like the 3 Series will be the next in the company's stable to get the electric motor treatment. While speaking with shareholders, BMW head-honcho Norbert Reithofer let it slip that we'll be seeing a hybrid version of the company's bread and butter 3 Series fairly soon. When is that, exactly? It's hard to judge from Reithofer's statement, but given that the 5 Series hybrid is slated for sale next year, we would guess the tech-laded 3 will pop up in 2012.

BMW says that its biggest motivation for spreading hybrid tech amongst its models isn't emissions standards. Instead, the German manufacturer said that demand in Japan spurred the move. According to Reithofer, most Japanese consumers won't take the time to look at a brand unless there are multiple hybrid options on the showroom floor.

While the move is mostly sales based, it won't hurt the company's goal of cutting CO2 emissions by 25 percent between now and 2020.

[Source: Autocar]

Confirmed, Again: Next BMW 3 Series to gain hybrid version originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 May 2010 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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