BMW has announced that all of its “core models” will get a plug-in hybrid vehicle, starting with the 3-Series.
The German automaker says that it’s implementing its Efficient Dynamics strategy that will maximize the “green” aspects of all its vehicles through aerodynamic designs, lightweight technologies and electrified powertrains. It expects to eventually offer a plug-in hybrid version of every lineup.
The luxury car brand has recently launched the most recent addition to the electrified models, the 3-Series plug-in. This vehicle, which joins BMW’s most popular lineup, is available with the technology that’s already being used in the i-brand models – according to the automaker.
The 3-Series plug-in will be powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor and efficiently cooled lithium-ion battery pack. The all-electric driving range is almost 100 kilometres, but it can be enhanced by engaging the gas engine. Power figures are yet to be released, but BMW says that its future hybrid systems will be able to offer combined outputs up to 650 horsepower.
BMW also plans to release a BMW X5 eDrive model, which will share “an intelligent eDrive component-sharing system” with the 3-Series. The system will allow for the same production line to build the eDrive system for every BMW car – from the i8 right through to the X5.
The company says that it’s focused on offering vehicles with low emissions that still retain the driving pleasure and dynamics of a BMW. The automaker is also focused on developing fully electric mobility, and according to the company, hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are the key to achieving this.
