BMW Brilliance 5-series New Energy Vehicle (2011)

By Mark Hamilton

First Official Pictures

07 April 2011 12:35

BMW has presented the first official picture of its BMW Brilliance 5-series New Energy Vehicle, a hybrid long-wheelbase 5-series which will debut at the 2011 Shanghai motor show.

BMW's brilliant New Energy Vehicle? How do you know? BMW bias!

No, BMW Brilliance 5-series New Energy Vehicle. BMW Brilliance Automotive is the manufacturing joint venture between BMW and Brilliance China Automotive Holdings. BMW Brilliance produce cars for the China market at its plant in Shenyang. Hence the long-wheelbase 5-series bodystyle, popular in China for owners who want the 'ultimate driving machine', but prefer to be driven. 

BMW Brilliance 5-series New Energy Vehicle - the lowdown

5-series familiar from the outside, the big news with this prototype is the plug-in hybrid powertrain. There's a 215bhp turbocharged straight-six petrol engine coupled with a 70kW electric motor. It's a parallel hybrid drivetrain, allowing for pure EV driving as well as petrol-electric propulsion. In electric mode BMW claim the New Energy Vehicle can cruise at 37mph, for a range of 43 miles. Significantly better than BMW's current X6 and 7-series ActiveHybrid models, which can manage a maximum of 1.6 miles in the X6.

When the petrol engine is doing the work with hybrid support, the minimum additional range is claimed as 249 miles. BMW says these stats fit the driving profile of Chinese buyers in the premium segment.

The hybrid's battery pack is mounted in the boot, and can be recharged via mains power. More details on the battery pack and charging are expected when the car is unveiled in Shanghai.