BMW Reveals Details of the 2012 ActiveHybrid 5

BMW Reveals Details of the 2012 ActiveHybrid 5

BMW takes the development of intelligent hybrid drive systems to the next level with the introduction of the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 – another series-produced model in which a combustion engine and electric motor join forces to enhance both efficiency and the brand’s hallmark driving pleasure. The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 brings together a BMW TwinPower Turbo in-line 6-cylinder engine, an electric drive system and an 8-speed automatic gearbox for the first time.
The latest generation of BMW ActiveHybrid technology also adds precisely controlled – and therefore extremely effective – intelligent energy management. All of which gives the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 an exceptional balance of performance and fuel efficiency for the benchmark performance sedan in the premium executive car class.

Its drive system generates combined output of 335 hp allows the car to be driven on electric power alone up to 37 mph (60 km/h) for 2.5 miles (4km), and accelerates the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds (preliminary).  The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 will arrive as a 2012 model in US showrooms, March 2012 with a base MSRP of $61,845 (including $895 destination and handling).
The 300 hp inline-6 with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology in the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 is the same engine well-known for its free-revving capability, pulling power and efficiency in the BMW 535i. The electric motor develops 54 hp and is supplied with energy by a high-performance lithium-ion battery housed in the trunk.
In order to fully exploit the potential of the BMW ActiveHybrid technology, the power electronics in the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 uses a host of technologies to ensure the drive system runs at peak efficiency. The high-performance lithium-ion battery is recharged when the car is coasting or braking. The electric motor acts as a generator feeding energy into the high-voltage battery. By contrast, under acceleration, the electric motor takes on a boost function assisting the inline-6 by generating an extra burst of power, giving the sedan’s sporty driving character a noticeably sharper edge.

Integrated into the standard Driving Dynamics Control is an ECO PRO mode. It provides a relaxed and fuel-efficient driving style by tailoring the driving systems for maximum efficiency, including making more frequent use of all-electric mode.  In ECO PRO mode, the combustion engine can be switched off and fully decoupled while coasting at speeds of up to 100 mph (160 km/h). This coasting mode combines comfortable driving with optimum utilization of the kinetic energy already generated. To avoid periods with the engine running at idle – at traffic lights or in stop-and-go traffic, for example – the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 is equipped with a hybrid start-stop function. Plus, the power electronics in the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 are linked up with the standard navigation system. This allows proactive analysis of driving conditions based on the selected route. This enables the drive components to be primed to deliver maximum efficiency (the effect may vary according to the quality of the available navigation data).
All the hybrid-specific components of the drive technology and energy management systems have been developed specially for use in the BMW ActiveHybrid 5. Both the electric motor and the air conditioning compressor are powered exclusively by the lithium-ion high-voltage battery, via the high-voltage electrical system. This allows a pleasant interior climate to be maintained even when the internal combustion engine is switched off – i.e. when the car is at a standstill, operating purely on electric power or in coasting mode. All of the new hybrid components are designed with durability to last the life of the vehicle.

The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 is the first hybrid model to use a BMW inline 6-cylinder engine in its powertrain. The BMW ActiveHybrid 7 and BMW ActiveHybrid X6 both utilize a V8 engine, which is combined with either one or two electric motors. The 3.0-liter inline-6, which develops 300 hp and peak torque of 300 lb-ft, has won both the International Engine of the Year Award and the Ward’s 10 Best Engines Award two years running. The BMW TwinPower Turbo technology in the inline-6 combines a twin-scroll turbocharger, High Precision Direct Injection, Double VANOS variable valve timing and VALVETRONIC intake control. This technology package improves throttle response, revving ability, refinement and efficiency, while an aluminum crankcase also optimizes weight.
The synchronous electric motor of the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 is integrated into the housing of the 8-speed automatic transmission, saving space. The interplay between the electric motor and gearbox is controlled by a clutch.  The motor’s operating temperature is regulated by the combustion engine’s cooling system. The electric drive system develops 54 hp and makes 155 lb-ft of torque available from start. The motor is supplied with energy by a high-performance lithium-ion battery, specially developed for the BMW ActiveHybrid 5. The high-voltage battery is encased in special high-strength housing and positioned between the wheel arches in the trunk, providing it with optimum protection. It consists of 96 cells, has its own cooling system and offers usable energy capacity of 675 Wh.
The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 has both a conventional 14-volt power supply and a high-voltage supply with an operating voltage of 317 volts. They are linked by a voltage transformer which ensures that maximum electric energy can be used to enhance driving dynamics and comfort in any operating phase. Like the electric motor, the air conditioning compressor is also fed with power from the lithium-ion battery exclusively via the high-voltage supply. This ensures a pleasant interior climate, even when the combustion engine is switched off – i.e. when the car is at a standstill, operating purely on electric power or in coasting mode. In addition, the stationary climate control function can be used to cool the interior before the engine is started.

The BMW ActiveHybrid 5’s synchronous electric motor not only supports all-electric operations around town, it can also provide a performance-boost to the gas engine to deliver more powerful acceleration. In either case, the drive power is supplied instantly and without lag. Like all electric motors, it develops its full torque – of 155 lb-ft (210 Newton meters) – from a standing start.
Due to its high internal efficiency and low weight, the eight-speed automatic transmission contributes significantly to the efficiency of the powertrain. With its eight speeds, it combines a wide gear range with close ratio gear spacing. It also allows more use to be made of top gear, for a fuel-efficient, low-rpm driving style. The direct downshift capability and exceptionally short shift times can support very sporty driving. There is a controller throughout the high-performance transmission that ensures gear changes are always closely matched to the driver’s demands and the driving situation.

To make the most of the ActiveHybrid technology in the BMW ActiveHybrid 5, the power electronics incorporate a range of innovative intelligent energy management functions whose aim is to ensure that the powertrain operates as efficiently as possible. The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 can operate in all-electric mode up to a speed of 37 mph (60 km/h), for zero emissions in town. The lithium-ion high-voltage battery can store sufficient energy to give an all-electric driving range of up to approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) at an average speed of 22 mph (35 km/h).
The internal combustion engine is only started when the driver requires more power: it is then engaged automatically. The electric motor provides a “boost” function to supplement the engine when accelerating. Maximum combined power is 335 hp with maximum torque of 330 lb-ft. Under combined internal combustion/electric power, the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds (preliminary).
The specially designed Hybrid Auto Start-Stop function provides seamless operation when the vehicle is stopped in traffic – after the internal combustion engine is shut-off, the automatic climate control continues to run off the lithium-ion battery. When the driver releases the brake, the vehicle will restart on either the electric motor alone or the electric motor and the inlin-6, depending on the high-voltage battery’s current charge level and on how much power the driver wants.

Another innovation pioneered in the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 is the coasting mode.  It further improves efficiency by shutting the internal combustion engine down not only when the vehicle is stationary, or when driving in town, but also while coasting at higher speeds. This coasting mode is available at any speed up to 100 mph (160 km/h). Coasting mode switches off the internal combustion engine and disconnects it from the drive shaft. From this point on, the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 continues moving soundlessly, with zero emissions and with no engine braking effect. In coasting mode, as with all-electric mode for urban driving, all safety and comfort functions remain fully operational.
Dynamic lines and precisely contoured surfaces give the body of the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 an unmistakable and expressive appearance that exudes a similarly assured presence, stylish elegance and a promise of pure sports sedan performance. However, the ActiveHybrid 5 stands apart from its siblings visually with the addition of design features hinting at the pioneering drive technology beneath the surface. These eye-catching touches bring into even sharper focus the car’s exceptional efficiency – which, along with its hallmark BMW driving pleasure, outstanding comfort and uncompromising premium quality, defines the character of all BMW 5 Series models.
The typical BMW proportions of the ActiveHybrid 5 are headlined by a sweeping hood, short overhangs, long wheelbase and a roof line that swoops dynamically into the rear end. The front end, for example, is given expressive presence by the upright BMW kidney grille, V-shaped contours of the hood, broad, three-section styling of the air intake and powerfully flared wheel arches. The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 incorporates the brand’s traditional kidney grille – which stands out with its galvanized slats – as a visual link to the engine behind it. The tops of the twin circular headlights, meanwhile, are leveled off by an accent strip, giving them the focused look typical of BMW cars. The daytime running lights feature visually distinctive LED light rings. Viewed from the side, the car’s wedge shape underlines the sporty, forward-surging character of the Sedan. Its silhouette radiates a fine sense of balance, reflecting the even distribution of weight between the front and rear axles, while extra flaring around the rear wheel arches emphasizes the presence of rear-wheel drive. High-quality details, such as the particularly tight line of the Hofmeister kink at the base of the C-pillar, chrome-colored design elements containing integrated side indicators and the door openers recessed into the side design lines reinforce the Sedan’s premium character.
The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 represents the next stage in the ongoing evolution of BMW EfficientDynamics. It’s newly developed hybrid components that are combined with a BMW TwinPower Turbo inline-6 and 8-speed automatic transmission for the first time, and innovative functions for improved efficiency as well as driving enjoyment. At the same time it broaches yet another market segment, taking BMW’s hybrid development work another step forward.