BMW reveals three new plug-in hybrids at Frankfurt

Three new petrol-electric plug-in hybrid BMW models have made their debuts at the Frankfurt Motor Show and will launch early next year.

The 225xe, 330e and 740e join the X5 xDrive40 and sleek i8 to provide BMW with a five-strong range of plug-in hybrids, with new chairman Harald Krüger promising further petrol-electric models throughout next year.

The 225xe Active Tourer draws on the plug-in hybrid technology developed for the i8 sports car to offer the choice between front, rear or four-wheel drive, depending on the driving conditions.

A 134bhp front-mounted turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine sends power to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. The combustion engine is supported by an 88bhp electric motor mounted within the rear axle, driving the rear wheels via a fixed-ratio gearbox.

The 225xe can travel up to 40 kilometres on electric power alone. At a constant cruise over longer distances, it is programmed to run in front-wheel drive, with power provided exclusively by the petrol engine at speeds of up to 200kph in order to preserve the energy reserves of its 7.7kWh lithium ion battery.

Under acceleration, the combustion and electric motor pool their resources to provide a combined system output of 221bhp and 284lb ft, as well as four-wheel drive, in hybrid mode. A 0-100kph time of 6.7sec is claimed.

Further along the model line-up, the larger rear-wheel drive 330e saloon relies on a detuned version of the plug-in petrol-electric driveline used by the X5 xDrive40e. It uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor mounted within the gearbox to provide combined outputs of 248bhp and 310lb ft along with 148.7mpg/52.64kpl claimed combined economy and 44g/km of CO2 emissions. The lithium ion battery provides an electric-only range of 40 kilometres.

The flagship of BMW’s new plug-in hybrid line-up is the 740e. Available in standard and long-wheelbase body styles with rear-wheel drive (740e and 740Le) or in long-wheelbase form with four-wheel drive (740Le xDrive), it also draws on the plug-in hybrid system used by the X5 xDrive40e. Claimed figures for the 740e are 321bhp, 369lb ft, 134.5mpg/47.61kpl and 49g/km, plus a 40km electric-only range. 

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