2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 unveiled

Article
Gallery

By Brett Davis | October 18th, 2011

The BMW ActiveHybrid 3 has been revealed, joining the recently unveiled 2012 BMW 3 Series sedan and M Sport package.

As previously predicted, the BMW ActiveHybrid 3 will come with the same petrol engine as seen in the BMW 335i: a 3.0-litre TwinPower turbo straight-six petrol unit producing 225kW of power and 400Nm of torque.

Teamed with an electric motor, an additional 40kW and 47Nm will be on offer. BMW says the ActiveHybrid 3 will employ the eight-speed automatic transmission, and promises it will showcase the same dynamic driving characteristics of other BMW models, saying “drivability is on a par with that of a BMW 335i”.

Although its combined cycle fuel consumption of 6.4L/100km may not sound all that efficient for a hybrid, remember that the rating will be attached to a vehicle with 250kW and 447Nm on board. The BMW ActiveHybrid 3 will be capable of driving on electric power alone for around three to four kilometres.

BMW hasn’t released any official details on a specific release date yet, but it is expected to hit the market by the end of 2012.

Grammar Nazi

I get a feeling a lot of customers will be ticking the ‘delete badging’ option on this one.

Nugsdad

Everyone must have deleted Active Hybrid 1 & 2 ’cause I never saw them!
Well done BMW move straight to number 3.

Robert

I’m pretty sure it means it’s a 3 series BMW not a 3rd Version of this car

Martin

Unusual placement for the badges IMHO

F1MotoGP

Sound very good. I know the 5 series 3 liter engine 250kW, 450Nm from between 1200 to 5000 rpm!! City fuel economy 6.2 combined 7!! Just brilliant.
Japanese need to catch up.
Nugsdad

Brilliant – Attach the Hybrid technology to the most expensive engine in the range and charge $130k in Australia for the benefit of saving $500 a year at the pump!

3D4

True…
scottjames_12

A car like this is always going to be more about reducing emissions than it is about saving money….

Alexander

BMW, why not hybridise the new 2.0 or 1.6 turbo petrols? it would make much more sense and cost a lot less than the top of the range 3.0TT six.
Ben

Not very impressed. The Volvo V60 in the other post today looks far more impressive from a tech point of view alone. Figures of 209kw and 640nm and a rated consumption of 1.9L/100km make this BMW one look like a bit of a token effort. Maybe I just expected more.

Alexander

Don’t that the Volvo is a plug in with a longer EV range which really drives down over all economy – it also run a diesel combustion engine… Comparing a hybrid to a Plug in Hybrid is a bit tedious – if a 3 series had extra battery capacity and a plug, it too would get extremely low economy.

Alexander

*dont forget that

Vins

What an odd place to put the Active Hybrid 3 badge; seems like after thought.
FrugalOne

They are ALL now jumping onHybrid bandwagon, ever stop and thing BigT[tm.F.0] has a generation head start

Begs to differ, if DIEsel was the ants-pants why are they all now jumping ship?
hendo

Active Hybrid? What as opposed to an inactive hybrid? What a ridiculous name, BMW are losing the plot quickly.. I gather by some of the comments here that people are looking to genuine offerings from Volvo as a better alternative